WHATSTHATFISH
Log inSign up
Bony fish

Blackside Hawkfish

Paracirrhites forsteri

Also known as: Black-sided Hawkfish, Forster's Hawk, Forster's Hawkfish, Freckled Hawkfish, Freckle-faced Hawkfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
Add a photo
Adult
1
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · February 20071 / 52
01

Overview

Found singly, pairs or in harems, perched on coral and rocks, over clear soft bottoms, of lagoons and seaward reefs. Geographical variations in colour.

Hawkfish can be found perched as if 'standing on their fins' in the branches or on top of corals and rocks waiting for their prey. If approached by predators they quickly dart away to hide.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
specklesspotsstripes
Behaviour
ambush predatorharemspairssolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 4
  • Dive site · 1
  • Country only · 47
LIVES IN

Found singly, pairs or in harems, perched on coral and rocks, over clear soft bottoms, of lagoons and seaward reefs.

RANGE
04

Adult photos 52

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderCentrarchiformes
    5. familyCirrhitidae
    6. genusParacirrhites
    7. speciesParacirrhites forsteri (Schneider, 1801)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Hawkfishes (Cirrhitidae)

    Arc-eye Hawkfish

    Paracirrhites arcatus

    20 photos

    Bleekeri Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys bleekeri

    1 photo

    Cave Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys guichenoti

    2 photos

    Coral Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

    18 photos

    Dwarf Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys falco

    18 photos

    Giant Hawkfish

    Cirrhitus rivulatus

    11 photos

    Longnose Hawkfish

    Oxycirrhites typus

    23 photos

    Lyretail Hawkfish

    Cyprinocirrhites polyactis

    4 photos

    Red-spotted Hawkfish

    Amblycirrhitus pinos

    9 photos

    Splendid Hawkfish

    Notocirrhitus splendens

    1 photo

    Spotted Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys aprinus

    4 photos

    Stocky Hawkfish

    Cirrhitus pinnulatus

    6 photos