Whitespot hawkfish (Paracirrhites hemistictus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Paracirrhites hemistictus · Authority: (Günther, 1874) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 277097.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Cirrhites hemistictus Günther, 1874; Cirrhites polystictus Günther, 1874; Paracirrhites polystictus (Günther, 1874); Paracitthites hemistictus (Günther, 1874); Parracirrhites hemistictus (Günther, 1874).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277097 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 29 cm · Common length: 20 cm · Depth range: 0–20 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 19 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial.

FishBase notes: An uncommon species that inhabits exposed reef fronts and outer reef slopes to a depth of about 18 m where it perches on rocks and corals. Feeds on small crustaceans and fishes (Ref. 89972). Absent from most large continental islands (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. Solitary (Ref 90102).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5953) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Paracirrhites-hemistictus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,810 georeferenced occurrence records for Paracirrhites hemistictus are published through GBIF from 24 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 120 distinct locations from a sample of 2,810 records, omitting 2 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 Minor Outlying Islands (1,370); American Samoa (606); French Polynesia (329); Northern Mariana Islands (256); Christmas Island (53).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5208730) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5208730&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277097 (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 hemistictus (Günther, 1874) 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 67997886) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67997886/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5208730) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5208730/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The whitespot hawkfish was first formally described in 1874 as Cirrhites hemistictus by the German born British ichthyologist Albert Günther with the type locality given as the Society Islands. The specific name hemistictus neams "half spotted" a reference to the small dark spots on the upper body. At the same time as Günther described this species he described Cirrhites polystictus which has its whole body spotted but this is a colour form of C. hemistictus making C. polystictus a synonym of C. hemistictus.

The whitespot hawkfish has a rather elongated body relative to its congeners, the standard length being 2.8 to 3.2 times the depth. It has a large mouth which extends to below the centre of the eye. The preopercle has fine serrations on its upper two fifths. The continuous dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11 soft rays, with each spine having a single cirrus on the tip and the membranes between the spines are notched. The anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays. There are 14 pectoral fin rays, the lower 7 are robust and unbranched. The caudal fin is marginally rounded with sharp tips to the upper and lower lobes. This is the largest species in its genus attaining a maximum total length of 29 cm, although 20 cm is more typical. There are two different colour forms, a pale form which has black spots on the upper half of its body, a pinkish face and a white stripe running along its flanks and a dark form which is grey with dark brown spots over all the body. There is a white or pinkish spot, roughly equal in size to the eye, on the flank.

The whitespot hawkfish has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution but it appears to prefer oceanic insular waters to waters close to continents or large islands. Its range extends from Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean east through the Pacific to the Kiribati Line Islands and the Pitcairn Islands, north to the Ogasawara Islands of southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia and Fiji. This species normally occurs at depths between 1 and 18 m although it has been recorded at greater depth in areas of Micronesia, including in the Line Islands. It is found on reef fronts and outer reef slopes which are exposed to waves and tidal currents.

The whitespot hawkfish is an uncommon fish which can be found on tropical reefs at depths around 1 to 20 m. They are solitary and usually perch on coral branches, gorgonians and rocks. They feed on small fishes and crustaceans. Male maintains a harem of a few females.

The whitespot hawkfish is of limited importance commercially but it is fished for using hook and line.

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

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