Paracirrhites
A genus of hawkfishes found on tropical Indo-Pacific reefs.
Paracirrhites is a genus of marine ray-finned fish known as hawkfishes, part of the family Cirrhitidae. They inhabit tropical reefs across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The genus was established in 1874 by Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker, who later, in 1876, designated *Grammistes forsteri*—a species first described by German naturalist Johann Gottlob Schneider in 1801—as the type species. Within the Cirrhitidae, *Paracirrhites* appears to be closely related to the genera *Amblycirrhitus* and *Cirrhitus*. The name combines *para*, meaning "near" or "similar to," with *Cirrhites*, an alternate spelling of the family’s type genus *Cirrhitus*. Three small, little-known, and very similar species from Polynesia—*P. bicolor*, *P. nisus*, and *P. xanthus*—were all described by John E. Randall in 1963. These are largely sympatric, and it has been suggested they may actually be color morphs of a single polymorphic species that has experienced some gene introgression from the widespread, also sympatric arc-eye hawkfish.
Six species are currently recognized: *Paracirrhites arcatus* (arc-eye hawkfish), *P. bicolor*, *P. forsteri* (blackside hawkfish), *P. hemistictus* (whitespot hawkfish), *P. nisus*, and *P. xanthus*. Some authorities consider *Paracirrhites amblycephalus* a valid species, but FishBase treats it as a synonym of *P. arcatus*.
These hawkfishes are distinguished from other cirrhitids by having five scale rows between the lateral line and the base of the spiny part of the dorsal fin, a single cirrus at the tip of each dorsal-fin spine, and membranes between those spines that are not deeply notched. They lack teeth on the palatine. The upper one to two and lower six to seven pectoral fin rays are unbranched and robust, there are 11 soft dorsal fin rays, and the preoperculum is either smooth or very finely serrated. The pectoral fins do not reach as far as the tips of the pelvic fins, and the caudal fin ranges from truncate to rounded. Total length varies from 7.4 cm (2.9 in) in *P. bicolor* to 29 cm (11 in) in the whitespot hawkfish (*P. hemistictus*).
*Paracirrhites* hawkfishes have an Indo-Pacific distribution, ranging from East Africa east to Hawaii. They are associated with coral reefs and rocky substrates. These fish are predatory, feeding on other fishes and crustaceans.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Paracirrhites
- Type Species
- Grammistes forsteri
- Type Species Authority
- J. G. Schneider, 1801
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Paracirrhites was described in 1874 by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker. The genus name is a compound of para meaning 'near' or 'similar to' and Cirrhites, an alternative spelling of the type genus Cirrhitus. This genus appears to be a sister taxon to the genera Amblycirrhitus and Cirrhitus within the Cirrhitidae. Three little-known, small, largely sympatric and very similar species from Polynesia—P. bicolor, P. nisus and P. xanthus—were all described by John E. Randall in 1963. It has been suggested that these are actually colour morphs of the same polymorphic species which has undergone some introgression of genes from the widespread and also sympatric arc-eye hawkfish.
Reader's Guide
Paracirrhites hawkfishes are distinguished from other cirrhitid genera by having 5 scale rows between the lateral line and the base of the spiny part of the dorsal fin, each spine in the dorsal fin has a single cirrus at its tip, and the membranes between the spines are not deeply notched. They have no teeth on the palatine, and the upper 1-2 and lower 6-7 pectoral fin rays are unbranched and robust. These fish are predatory, feeding on other fishes and crustaceans, and are sit-and-wait predators that rest on the substrate or perch on corals; adults lack a swimbladder. The smaller, commoner species P. arcatus and P. forsteri are collected for the aquarium trade, while larger species are sometimes fished for food on a limited commercial basis. The six currently recognized species include Paracirrhites arcatus (arc-eye hawkfish), Paracirrhites bicolor, Paracirrhites forsteri (blackside hawkfish), Paracirrhites hemistictus (whitespot hawkfish), Paracirrhites nisus, and Paracirrhites xanthus. Some authorities treat Paracirrhites amblycephalus as a valid species, but Fishbase treats it as a synonym of P. arcatus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paracirrhites?
Paracirrhites is a small genus of hawkfishes in the family Cirrhitidae, native to tropical reef habitats across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
How many species are in the genus Paracirrhites?
Six species have been classified under this genus, ranging in size from just over 7 cm to nearly 30 cm.
Where do Paracirrhites live in the wild?
Their range stretches across Indo-Pacific tropical reefs, extending from the waters off East Africa to as far as Hawaii.
How big can Paracirrhites grow?
Sizes vary considerably among the six species, with P. bicolor reaching about 7.4 cm and P. hemistictus topping out near 29 cm.
Who described the genus Paracirrhites?
Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker erected the genus in 1874, and in 1876 he named Grammistes forsteri—originally described by Johann Gottlob Schneider in 1801—as the type species.
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