Ringeye Hawkfish, Paracirrhites arcatus (Cuvier, 1829)

Scientific name: Paracirrhites arcatus
Alternative name/s:
Arc-eye Hawkfish
<i>Paracirrhites arcatus</i> Click to enlarge image
A Ringeye Hawkfish, Paracirrhites arcatus, at a depth of 10m, Bougainville Reef, Coral Sea, December 2000. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Paracirrhites
    Species
    arcatus
    Family
    Cirrhitidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 14 cm in length.

Introduction

The Ringeye Hawkfish is recognisable by a horseshoe-shaped mark behind the eye that consists of three thin lines. The species occurs on coral reefs in tropical marine waters.

Identification

The Ringeye Hawkfish has a horseshoe-shaped mark behind the eye that consists of three thin lines. There are three orange bands on a light blue area on the operculum. A white to pink stripe is often present along the lateral line on the rear of the fish. Each dorsal fin spine is tipped with a cirrus.

Habitat

The species is usually found on coral reefs.

Distribution

The Ringeye Hawkfish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from central to north-western Western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef south to northern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.