Yellow hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys aureus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Cirrhitichthys aureus · Authority: (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 277544.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Cirrhites aureus Temminck & Schlegel, 1842.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277544 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 14 cm · Depth range: 5–20 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.

FishBase notes: Occurs on rocky cliffs in deep water (Ref. 9710). Also inhabits muddy substrates in protected bays where wave action has no influence (Ref. 48636). Solitary (Ref 90102).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10473) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Cirrhitichthys-aureus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

175 georeferenced occurrence records for Cirrhitichthys aureus are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 26 distinct locations from a sample of 175 records, omitting 14 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: Japan (69); Hong Kong (66); Chinese Taipei (25); China (8); Viet Nam (3); Brunei Darussalam (1); India (1); Sri Lanka (1); Malaysia (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2375152) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2375152&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277544 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Cirrhitichthys aureus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) 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 67997188) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67997188/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2375152) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2375152/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Cirrhitichthys aureus was first formally described in 1842 as Cirrhites aureus by Coenraad Jacob Temminck and Herman Schlegel with the type locality given as the outer bays of Nagasaki. The specific name aureus means “gold”, a reference to its golden yellow colour.

Cirrhitichthys aureus has a dorsal fin which contains 10 spines and 12 soft rays, the first soft ray is extended. The anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays. The pelvic fin extends past the anus and the caudal fin is weakly emarginate. This species reaches a maximum total length of 14 cm.

The overall colour is yellow to orange with large, indistinct, dusky brown blotches along the back. There is a pair of poorly defined brown spots just above the gill cover. The fins are yellowish in colour with spots on the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin.

Cirrhitichthys aureus is found in the Indo-Pacific region from India east to Japan and China, it has also been recorded in southern Indonesia. Thus species is found around rocky cliffs within reefs and is found at depths between 5 and 20 m.

Cirrhitichthys aureus have been shown, at least in captivity, to be able to change sex in either direction. They lay pelagic eggs. Their diet is made up of fishes and crustaceans. In the wild these fish are largely solitary.

Cirrhitichthys aureus are not often collected for the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Cirrhitichthys aureus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrhitichthys_aureus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.