Twospot hawkfish

Lore & Background

The twospot hawkfish was first formally described in 1903 as Cirrhitoidea bimacula by American zoologist Oliver Peebles Jenkins, with the type locality given as Honolulu. Its specific name bimacula means 'two spot,' referencing the two spots: one on the operculum and the other on the upper body towards the caudal fin. The body depth is approximately one third of its standard length, and it has undulating reddish-brown bars on the flanks, along with a large pale-margined black spot on the opercle and a similar spot at the rear over the base of the dorsal fin.

This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, ranging from the coast of Eastern Africa between Kenya and South Africa eastward across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific Ocean as far as Hawaii and the Pitcairn Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands, and south to Australia. In Australian waters it is found at Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, from Ningaloo Reef to Rosily Island in Western Australia, along the Great Barrier Reef south to Moreton Bay in Queensland, and at Boot Reef and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. It inhabits coral reefs from 0 to 20 meters deep.

The twospot hawkfish is a secretive, benthic species typically found hiding in crevices in reefs or between rocks or rubble. It can be common where there is exposure to surge or currents on seaward reefs, and it feeds on small crustaceans.

Reader's Guide

The twospot hawkfish is notable for its wide Indo-Pacific distribution and its distinctive two-spot pattern, which gives it both its common and scientific names. Described in 1903 from a specimen collected in Honolulu, it has since been recorded across a vast range from eastern Africa to the Pacific islands, including Hawaii, the Pitcairn Islands, and Australia. Its secretive, benthic lifestyle and preference for hiding in reef crevices or among rubble make it a typical hawkfish, often found in areas with surge or currents on seaward reefs. The species grows to a maximum length of 9 cm and feeds on small crustaceans. It is collected for the aquarium trade, indicating its appeal to hobbyists, though the article provides no further details on its popularity or care. The twospot hawkfish's presence in the aquarium trade and its wide natural range underscore its ecological adaptability and interest to marine fish enthusiasts.

Did You Know?

• Its specific name bimacula means 'two spot,' referring to spots on the operculum and upper body near the caudal fin.
• It is found from 0 to 20 m (0 to 66 ft) on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific.