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Species profile—Amblycirrhitus bimacula (twinspot hawkfish)

Classification

Animalia (animals) → Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) → Cirrhitidae (hawkfishes) → Amblycirrhitus bimacula (twinspot hawkfish)

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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.

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Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Last updated
20 May 2024