Twospot hawkfish (Amblycirrhitus bimacula)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Amblycirrhitus bimacula · Authority: (Jenkins, 1903) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218851.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amblycirrhites bimacula (Jenkins, 1903); Cirrhitoidea bimacula Jenkins, 1903; Cirrhitoidea bimaculata Jenkins, 1903; Paracirrhites bimaculatus (Jenkins, 1903).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218851 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 8.5 cm · Depth range: 0–20 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: A secretive species remaining in or near interstices of rock, coral, or rubble (Ref. 2334, 58302). Moderately common in seaward reefs in areas exposed to moderate surge or currents (Ref. 2334). Feeds on small crustaceans (Ref. 89972). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 30874.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5829) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amblycirrhitus-bimacula.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

558 georeferenced occurrence records for Amblycirrhitus bimacula are published through GBIF from 41 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 175 distinct locations from a sample of 558 records, omitting 15 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: French Polynesia (113); United States of America (80); Seychelles (37); Philippines (27); Fiji (22); Australia (21); British Indian Ocean Territory (21); Chinese Taipei (18); South Africa (18); Micronesia (Federated States of) (15); Comoros (15); New Caledonia (14); Palau (11); Vanuatu (11); Christmas Island (10).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2375106) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2375106&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218851 (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 Amblycirrhitus bimacula (Jenkins, 1903) 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 67996575) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67996575/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2375106) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2375106/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The twospot hawkfish was first formally described in 1903 as Cirrhitoidea bimacula by the American zoologist Oliver Peebles Jenkins with the type locality given as Honolulu. The specific name bimacula means "two spot" a reference to the two spots, one on the operculum and the other on the upper body towards the caudal fin.

The twospot hawkfish has a body which has a depth which is approximately one third of its standard length. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 12 soft rays while the anal fin has 3spines and 6 soft rays. This species grows to a maximum length of 9 cm. This species has undulating reddish-brown bars on the flanks. There is a large pale margined black spot on the opercle, and a similar spot at the rear over the base of the dorsal fin.

The twospot hawkfish has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. It is found along the coast of Eastern Africa between Kenya and South Africa the east across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific Ocean as Far East as Hawaii and the Pitcairn Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands and south to Australia. In Australian territorial waters it is found at Christmas Island and the Coco (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean, from Ningaloo Reef to Rosily Island in Western Australia and along the Great Barrier Reef south to Moreton Bay in Queensland. It is also found at Boot Reef and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. They are found from 0 to 20 m on coral reefs.

The twospot hawkfish is a secretive, benthic species which is 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. It feeds on small crustaceans.

The twospot hawkfish is collected for the aquarium trade.

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

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