Blackside hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Paracirrhites forsteri
- Common name
- Blackside hawkfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Cirrhitidae
- Genus
- Paracirrhites
- Size
- 15–23 cm
- Depth
- 1–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Paracirrhites forsteri reaches 23 cm. Indo-Pacific hawkfish (Cirrhitidae) with stocky body with highly variable color phases depending on age and habitat: juveniles white with small red spots on back, adults red-purple with golden-yellow back and dark longitudinal line (hence blackside hawkfish), or darkish phase. Lives from 1 to 40 m on coral reefs of entire Indo-Pacific (Red Sea to central Pacific). Perches on branching corals (Pocillopora, Acropora). Iconic photo subject, fascinating color changes between phases.
Photo of Blackside hawkfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Blackside hawkfish?
- Blackside hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) reaches 15–23 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Blackside hawkfish?
- Blackside hawkfish is found between 1–40 m deep.
- Is the Blackside hawkfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Blackside hawkfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Blackside hawkfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Paracirrhites
Other species in the family Cirrhitidae
- Neocirrhites armatus - Flame hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus - Coral hawkfish
- Cirrhitus rivulatus - Giant hawkfish
- Oxycirrhites typus - Longnose hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys falco - Falco hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys aprinus - Blotched hawkfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 218867)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5208733)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia