Paracirrhites amblycephalus
A hawkfish with a horseshoe-shaped mark behind the eye.
The arc-eye hawkfish, also known as the ringeye, horseshoe, or whiteline hawkfish (*Paracirrhites arcatus*), belongs to the family Cirrhitidae. While some experts recognize *Paracirrhites amblycephalus* as a separate species, FishBase lists it as a synonym of *P. arcatus*.
This fish has a fairly deep body, with a standard length about 2.7 times its depth. Its upper preopercle margin is smooth, and its caudal fin is slightly rounded or truncate. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11 soft rays, each spine tipped with a branched cirrus; the anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays. It reaches a maximum total length of 20 cm (7.9 in). Body color is variable but typically pale pinkish brown. Behind the eye is a horseshoe-shaped mark made of three thin lines. The gill cover shows three orange bands set in a light blue area. A white to pink stripe often runs from about mid-flank to the rear.
Found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, its range stretches from East and South Africa east through the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, reaching the Hawaiian and Pitcairn Islands, north to Japan, and south to Australia. In Australia, it occurs from Shark Bay to the Muiron Islands and offshore Western Australian reefs, at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and from the northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea reefs south to the Solitary Islands in New South Wales. It also lives at Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, as well as at Middleton Reef, Elizabeth Reef, and Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. This benthic species inhabits coral reefs, typically in lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 1–30 m (3–98 ft), with a maximum recorded depth of 91 m (299 ft).
The arc-eye hawkfish often sits motionless on the reef among corals, preferring the heads of *Pocillopora*, *Stylophora*, and *Acropora*. It is solitary and preys mainly on shrimps, small fishes, crabs, and other crustaceans. Two main color morphs occur together: darker fish on basalt-dominated areas and pale fish on corals, often just a few meters apart. To spawn, pairs ascend into the water column to release their gametes.
This species is collected for the aquarium trade and is relatively common in it.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Paracirrhites arcatus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The arc-eye hawkfish was first formally described in 1829 as Cirrhites arcatus by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier, with the type locality given as Mauritius. The specific name arcatus means 'arched', an allusion which Cuvier did not explain but may refer to the horseshoe-shaped mark behind the eye. This species has a variable background colour on the body, the typical colour being pale pinkish brown, with a horseshoe-shaped mark to the rear of the eye consisting of three thin lines. The gill cover has three orange bands set in a light blue area, and a white to pink stripe is frequently present from around halfway along the flank and running to the rear.
The arc-eye hawkfish is typically seen sitting motionless on the reef amongst corals, preferring the heads of Pocillopora, Stylophora and Acropora corals, and is solitary. It preys mostly on shrimps, small fishes, crabs, and other crustaceans. There are main colour morphs that occur together, with darker fish on basalt-dominated areas and pale fish on corals, frequently only a few metres from each other. They form pairs to spawn, the pair ascending into the water column to release their gametes.
Reader's Guide
The arc-eye hawkfish is a relatively common species in the aquarium trade, collected for that purpose. It is widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific, ranging from East to South Africa eastward across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands and Pitcairn Islands, north to Japan and south to Australia. It is a benthic species associated with coral reefs, usually found in lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 1–30 m, with a maximum recorded depth of 91 m. The species is notable for its variable colour morphs that correlate with substrate type, with darker fish on basalt and pale fish on corals. Its taxonomy includes a dispute: some authorities treat Paracirrhites amblycephalus as a valid species, but Fishbase treats this taxon as a synonym of Paracirrhites arcatus.
Did You Know?
- Its specific name arcatus means 'arched', possibly referring to the horseshoe-shaped mark behind the eye.
- It is collected for and is a relatively common species in the aquarium trade.
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