Arc-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Centrarchiformes · Family: Cirrhitidae · Genus: Paracirrhites.

Accepted name: Paracirrhites arcatus · Authority: (Cuvier, 1829) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218866.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amblycirrhitus arcatus (Cuvier, 1829); Cirrhites amblycephalus Bleeker, 1857; Cirrhites arcatus Cuvier, 1829; Gymnocirrhites arcatus (Cuvier, 1829); Paracirrhites amblycephalus (Bleeker, 1857); Paracirrhites arcuatus (Cuvier, 1829).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218866 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Paracirrhites arcatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 20 cm · Depth range: 0–91 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Occur in lagoon and seaward reefs from 1 to at least 33 m, on heads of small branching corals, e.g. Stylophora , Pocillopora , Acropora (Ref. 9710). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Feed mainly on shrimps, small fishes, crabs, and other crustaceans (Ref. 2334). Solitary (Ref 90102). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5835) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Paracirrhites-arcatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

25,515 georeferenced occurrence records for Paracirrhites arcatus are published through GBIF from 47 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 284 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 24 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (9,461); American Samoa (3,844); Northern Mariana Islands (3,702); United States Minor Outlying Islands (3,145); Australia (1,279).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5208726) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5208726&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218866 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Paracirrhites arcatus (Cuvier, 1829) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 67997869) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67997869/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5208726) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5208726/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

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 it may refer to the horseshoe shaped mark behind the eye. Some authorities treat Paracirrhites amblycephalus as a valid species but Fishbase treats this taxon as a synonym of P. arcatus.

The arc-eye hawkfish has a relatively deep body, the standard length being around 2.7 times its length. It has a smooth upper preopercular margin and a slightly rounded to truncate caudal fin. The dorsal fin contains 10 spines and 11 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays, each dorsal fin spine being tipped with a branched cirrus. This species reaches a maximum published total length of 20 cm. This species has a variable background colour on the body, the typical colour being pale pinkish brown. There is a horseshoe-shaped mark to the rear of the eye that consists of three thin lines. The gill cover has three orange bands set in a light blue area. A white to pink stripe is frequently present from around halfway along the flank and running to the rear.

The arc-eye hawkfish is widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from East to South Africa eastwards across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific Ocean east to the Hawaiian Islands and Pitcairn Islands, north to Japan and south to Australia. In Australia it has been recorded from off Shark Bay to the Muiron Islands and offshore reefs of Western Australia, at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and from the northern Great Barrier Reef and reefs in the Coral Sea south to the Solitary Islands in New South Wales. It has also been recorded at the Australian Indian Ocean territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands; and the Tasman Sea locations of Middleton Reef, Elizabeth Reef and Norfolk Island. It is a benthic species associated with coral reefs. It usually can be found in lagoon and seaward reefs, at a depth of 1 - 30 m, with a maximum of 91 m.

The arc-eye hawkfish is typically seen sitting motionless on the reef amongst corals. It prefers 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 and these occur together with the darker fish on basalt dominated areas and the pale fish on corals, the different fish frequently being only a few metres from each other. They form pairs to spawn, the pair ascending into the water column to release their gametes.

The arc-eye hawkfish is collected for, and is a relatively common species in, the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Arc-eye hawkfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc-eye_hawkfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

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