Paracirrhites xanthus
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Paracirrhites xanthus, the yellow hawkfish or the blueline yellow hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. it is found in the eastern central Pacific. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
- Scientific name
- Paracirrhites xanthus
- Authority
- Randall, 1963
- Family
- Cirrhitidae
- Order
- Centrarchiformes
- Maximum length
- 12 cm
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 81
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Centrarchiformes · Family: Cirrhitidae · Genus: Paracirrhites.
Accepted name: Paracirrhites xanthus · Authority: Randall, 1963 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 277099.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277099 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Paracirrhites xanthus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 12 cm · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: Among or on top of corals. Feeds on invertebrates, preferably crustaceans.
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 49449) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Paracirrhites-xanthus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
81 georeferenced occurrence records for Paracirrhites xanthus are published through GBIF from 5 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 22 distinct locations from a sample of 81 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: United States Minor Outlying Islands (41); French Polynesia (27); American Samoa (8); Kiribati (4); Cook Islands (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5208729) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5208729&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277099 (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 xanthus Randall, 1963 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 67997896) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67997896/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5208729) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5208729/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Paracirrhites xanthus was first formally described in 1963 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall with the type locality given as Takapoto Atoll in the Tuamotu Islands. This species is one of three species of little known, small, largely sympatric and very similar Paracirrhites hawkfishes from Polynesia, the other two being P. bicolor and P. nisus. These 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 (P. arcatus). The specific name xanthus means "yellow", a reference to the colour of this species.
Paracirrhites xanthus has a body in which the depth of the body is just under 40% of its standard length. The dorsal fin contains 10 spines and 11 soft rays, the anterior dorsal fin spines have cirri on their tips. The anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays while the pectoral fin has the lower 7 fin rays unbranched and robust. The caudal fin is truncate. This species attains a maximum recorded total length of 12 cm. The overall colour is vivid yellow with indistinct horizontal lines and a short vioet-blue stripe behind the eye.
Paracirrhites xanthus is found in the western central Pacific Ocean. It has been found in French Polynesia in the Tuamotu Archipelago, Marquesas Islands and Society Islands; at the Cook Islands and in Kiribati at the Phoenix Islands, Line Islands and Caroline Atoll, as well as in American Samoa at Swains Island. It s found at depths between 2 and 25 m on exposed outer reefs.
Paracirrhites xanthus is a solitary species which sits on the top of corals from where it ambushes its prey, mostly crustaceans.
Paracirrhites xanthus is collected for the aquarium trade. It is mostly available within that trade in Japan where it commands high prices. They are rarely available in Europe or North America.
Source: Wikipedia: Paracirrhites xanthus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracirrhites_xanthus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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