Scientific Name
Paracirrhites forsteri

Common Name
Blackside hawkfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6. Body yellowish with broad blackish stripe on upper side; head and anterior part of body with small dark reddish spots (Ref. 5469).Color changes with growth as well as varies among adults (Ref. 37816). In Oceania, juveniles are a golden green dorsally and white ventrally; in continental areas juveniles may be red dorsally (Ref. 37816). The maroon and yellow phase was originally described as a distinct species, P. typee (Ref. 37816).

Classification

Classified By

Schneider, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Hawkfishes (Cirrhitidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 5469) to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands. Unknown from the Persian and Oman gulfs (Ref. 11441).

Range

32°N - 29°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

27 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

35 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 35 m (Ref. 37816), usually 5 - 35 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

4.3 s.e. 0.76 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

22.0 cm

Common Length

18.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5156 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (11 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated