Species profile—Amblycirrhitus bimacula (twinspot hawkfish)
Classification
Animalia (animals) → Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) → Cirrhitidae (hawkfishes) → Amblycirrhitus bimacula (twinspot hawkfish)
Sighting data
Species details
- Kingdom
- Animalia (animals)
- Class
- Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
- Family
- Cirrhitidae (hawkfishes)
- Scientific name
- Amblycirrhitus bimacula (Jenkins, 1903)
- Common name
- twinspot hawkfish
- WildNet taxon ID
- 32107
- Conservation significant
- No
- Wetland status
- Wetland Dependant Species
- Endemicity
- Native
- Pest status
- Nil
- Description
- This species is typically brown or reddish in colour and can be identified by irregular spots or dark bars on their body. They have a large black spot located just behind the eye and another at the base of the dorsal fin. The maximum length of this species is 29cm.
- Distribution
- In Queensland this species can be found from Raine Island off Cape York to Stradbroke Island and are generally non-migratory. The twinspot hawkfish is also found on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Extralimitally the distribution extends throughout the Indo-West Pacific.
- Distributional limits
- 0, 0
0, 0 - Species environment
- Marine
- Habitat
- The twinspot hawkfish are bottom-dwelling fish found among coral or rocky reefs, occurring to depths of up to 50m. They use their thickened lower pectoral-fin rays to wedge themselves into position in areas subject to wave surge.
- Reproduction
- Twinspot hawkfish are protogynous hermaphrodites (having both male and female reproductive organs), developing into females initially with a few individuals subsequently changing into dominant males. Spawning takes place in open water close to the surface.
- Diet
- These species are carnivorous, feeding mainly on small fish and benthic (bottom dwelling) crustaceans.
- Notes
- Contributors: Danielle Hansen 17/07/2008; Wayne Martin 09/11/2008
- References
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R., & Allen, G.R. (2006). Fishes. In: Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35, Part 2. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds). (2008). FishBase, version (09/2008). World Wide Web electronic publication, Accessed 09/11/2008.
Moh, H.K. (1988). Osteological evidence for the monophyly of Cepolidae and Owstoniidae. Japan. J. Ichthyol., 34(4):507-508.
Randall, J.E. (1986). Cirrhitidae. Pp. 664-666. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' Sea Fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. - Profile author
- Danielle Hansen (09/11/2008)
Other resources
Data source
This profile data is sourced from the QLD Wildlife Data API using the Get species by ID function used under CC-By 4.0.
https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species/?op=getspeciesbyid&taxonid=32107.
This information is sourced from the WildNet database managed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.
