Splendid hawkfish (Notocirrhitus splendens)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Notocirrhitus splendens · Authority: (Ogilby, 1889) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 281776.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Cirrhitichthys splendens Ogilby, 1889; Cirrhitus splendens (Ogilby, 1889).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=281776 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 20 cm · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.

FishBase notes: Inhabits seaward reefs, at the bases of coral heads or on hard bottom (Ref. 9710).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 12702) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Notocirrhitus-splendens.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

586 georeferenced occurrence records for Notocirrhitus splendens are published through GBIF from 3 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 13 distinct locations from a sample of 586 records, omitting 1 inland record 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: Australia (499); Norfolk Island (53); New Zealand (34).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2375147) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2375147&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=281776 (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 Notocirrhitus splendens (Ogilby, 1889) 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 67997845) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67997845/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2375147) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2375147/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The splendid hawkfish was first formally described in 1889 as Cirrhitichthys splendens by the Irish born Australian ichthyologist and herpetologist James Douglas Ogilby with the type locality given as Lord Howe Island. In 2001 John Ernest Randall placed it in a new monotypic genus, Notocirrhitus. The genus name is a compound of noto meaning "south" a reference to the more southerly range of this species in comparison to other hawkfishes and Cirrhitus the type genus of the family Cirrhitidae. The specific name splendens means "splendid" or "superb", referring to the bright colouration of this fish.

Description

The splendid hawkfish has a moderately deep body and a slightly elongate snout. There are 25 or more small serrations on the upper margin of the preoperculum and the gill membrane across the throat does not have scales. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 12 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays.

The first dorsal fin ray is elongated. The uppermost and lower seven pectoral fin rays are elongated and robust. It is a relatively large hawkfish with a maximum published total length of 20 cm.

The body is grey on the head shading to white towards the tail. The snout and face are marked with reddish spots which have darkish margins, there are stripes on the nape and dark blotches on the flanks. There are spots on the tail and the base of the pectoral fin has orange-red spots.

Distribution and habitat

The splendid hawkfish is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean where it has been only been recorded from the Australian waters off Point Danger near Coolangatta in Queensland, North Solitary Island and Nelson Bay in northern New South Wales, Elizabeth Reef, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand. It is found at depths of 7 to 12 m around seaward reefs in the vicinity of coral heads where there is a hard substrate.

Source: Wikipedia: Splendid hawkfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_hawkfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.