Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes
(Perch-likes) > Cirrhitidae
Etymology: Paracirrhites: Greek, para = the side of + Latin, cirrus = curl (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 35 m (Ref. 37816), usually 5 - 35 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 24°C - 27°C (Ref. 27115), preferred ?; 35°N - 36°S, 28°E - 124°W
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 5469) to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands. Unknown from the Persian and Oman gulfs (Ref. 11441).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573); common length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573)
soft rays: 6. Body yellowish with broad blackish stripe on upper side; head and anterior part of body with small dark reddish spots (Ref. 5469).Color changes with growth as well as varies among adults (Ref. 37816). In Oceania, juveniles are a golden green dorsally and white ventrally; in continental areas juveniles may be red dorsally (Ref. 37816). The maroon and yellow phase was originally described as a distinct species, P. typee (Ref. 37816).
Inhabits clear lagoon or seaward reefs to at least 33 m depth (Ref. 9710), but may venture very deep. Occurs openly on coral and soft-bottom habitats, occasionally in pairs (Ref. 48636). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Tends to perch on outermost branches of Stylophora, Pocillopora, and Acropora corals (Ref. 9710). Feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans, sometimes on shrimps and is territorial and haremic (Ref. 37816). Solitary on corals (Ref 90102). Marketed mostly fresh.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing. Spawning ascents into the water column occurred over a distance of 1.0 to 2.5 m (Ref. 26305).
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 109396)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Threat to humans
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805
= 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00912 (0.00358 - 0.02321), b=3.07 (2.85 - 3.29), based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245
Trophic Level (Ref. 69278
): 4.3 ±0.76 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 69278
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153
): Low vulnerability (11 of 100) .