Photo. (c) 2022 BSS/MCSS.
Scientific Name: Amblycirrhitus bimacula
English Name: Twospot hawkfish
Creole Name:
French Name:
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 10; Dorsal rays: 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 6.
Moderately long snout with terminal mouth. Large eyes. Interorbital space scaled. 4 or 5 rows of scales on cheek. Preopercle finely serrate. 3 scale rows above lateral line.
A tuft of cirri from membrane near tip of each dorsal spine.
Colour. Whitish base colour that forms the interstices between (approximatley 10) brown or reddish irregular bars that sometimes break into spots. 2 narrow diagonal bars on
cheek. A large pale-edged dark spot on the opercle and another at base of soft dorsal fin.
Size:
Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 8.5 cm SL.
Habitat and Ecology:
A secretive species that usually shelters in crevices and amongst coral, often on seaward reefs exposed to moderate surge or currents (depth 0-20 m, usually 2-15 m). Benthic.
Solitary. Feeds on small crustaceans. Use their thickened lower pectoral-fin rays to wedge themselves into position in areas subject to wave surge. Protogynous hermaphrodites.
Spawning takes place in open water close to the surface.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.
References:
Amblycirrhitus bimacula in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/435 (22/07/22).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5829 (22/07/22).
Greenfield, D. & Williams, I. (2016). Amblycirrhitus bimacula (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T67996575A68001641.en. (22/07/22).
Hansen, D. (2008). Species profile—Amblycirrhitus bimacula (twinspot hawkfish). https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=32107 (22/07/22).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Amblycirrhitus bimacula, Twospot hawkfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/amblycirrhitus-bimacula-jenkins-1903/
There are no comments