Freckled hawkfish

Paracirrhites forsteri

Occurring in

Indian Ocean
Red Sea

1-40m

DayActive

not endangered

This rascal makes himself tricky to identify because he dresses in all sorts of shades and patterns. His only permanent feature? Red to black spots from mouth to gills .

Habitat

Coral reef

Special features

This rascal makes himself tricky to identify because he dresses in all sorts of shades and patterns. His only permanent feature? Red to black spots from mouth to gills.

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Appearance

Bulging, slightly downward lips and large eyes characterize his face. Otherwise, it can be colored from olive green to red-white, dark red to black.

Natural enemies

Predatory fish

Dangerous/Venomous

The Freckled hawkfish is neither dangerous nor venomous.

Sketch

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1. Thick lips

2. Freckle pattern

Pro tips

This rascal usually rests exposed on corals. Doing so he is definitely not shy at all and lets divers get very close to him.

It is particularly common in clear lagoons or outer reefs. There he nibbles on corals or catches small fish and shrimps.

By the way, they are also called "Korallenwächter" coral guards in German, which is due to their hunting behavior. This is also the case with the English species name “hawkeye”, because they watch what is happening around them from a raised position and snap forward at lightning speed and grab their prey.
The tiny clusters at the ends of their dorsal fin rays are responsible for their German name "Büschelbarsch".

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Text: Carolina Leiter

Pic: Felician Hosp

Illustration: Dive Dict