Blackside hawkfish Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Blackside hawkfish

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Grammistes forsteri J. G. Schneider, 1801 Paracirrhites typee J. E. Randall, 1963

The black-side hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It's also called the freckled hawkfish or Forster's hawkfish. This fish is a type of hawkfish, known for resting on corals. You can find it in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Sometimes, people keep them in aquariums. This fish can grow up to about 22 centimeters (or 8.7 inches) long.

What is the Black-side Hawkfish?
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What is the Black-side Hawkfish?

Naming the Black-side Hawkfish

Scientists give every animal a special two-part name. The black-side hawkfish was first officially described in 1801. A German scientist named Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider gave it the name Grammistes forsteri.

The second part of its name, "forsteri," honors another naturalist. His name was Johann Reinhold Forster. He was a scientist who traveled with Captain James Cook on his second big ocean journey. Forster had described this fish in his notes, even though his work wasn't published at the time.

What Does the Black-side Hawkfish Look Like?

The black-side hawkfish can grow to be about 22 centimeters (around 8.7 inches) long. Its body usually has a yellowish color. A wide black or dark brown stripe runs along the back half of its body.

The front part of its body and its head are often whitish or gray. You might also see small red spots, like freckles, on its head. Young hawkfish can look a bit different. In some places, they might be reddish on top. In other areas, they might have golden-green upper parts and white undersides. Their colors can change as they grow up.

Where Does the Black-side Hawkfish Live?

The black-side hawkfish lives in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. This huge area stretches from East Africa and the Red Sea all the way to Japan, New Caledonia, and Australia.

In Australia, you can find them from the northwest coast of Western Australia around the top of the country to the border of Queensland and New South Wales. They like to live on the outer edges of coral reefs. You can also find them in calm, sandy lagoons. They can live in waters as deep as 30 meters (about 100 feet) or even more.

How Does the Black-side Hawkfish Live?

The black-side hawkfish is a clever hunter. It's an ambush predator. This means it usually waits quietly for its food to come by. It often rests on top of a coral head, using its stiff bottom fins to prop itself up. When a small crustacean (like a crab or shrimp) or a tiny fish swims past, the hawkfish quickly darts out to catch it!

These fish usually prefer to be alone. However, you might sometimes see them in pairs. They can also form small groups, called harems. In these groups, there's one main male and several females.

Like some other fish, the black-side hawkfish can change its sex. They start their lives as females. If the main male in a group leaves or dies, the largest female in that group can change into a male. This helps the group continue to have a leader.