Description

The Arc-Eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites Arcatus) is a species of Hawkfish. It grows to a maximum size of 7.5 inches in length and breed in a variety of colors; the body may be greenish-brown, dark brown or reddish-orange, while the tail usually is bluish. A broad, longitudinal white band runs along the distal half of the body. A characteristic ring-shaped or U-shaped tricolor marking (red, blue and yellow) occurs around and behind the eyes. The dorsal fin has ten spines and eleven soft rays, and the anal fin has three spines and six soft rays.

It is found in shallow waters in the tropical Indo-Pacific on reefs, resting on coral heads much of the time. These voracious predators are very territorial. They spend most of their time perched on corals, especially Acropora, Stylophora, and Pocillopora genres waiting for prey to approach too close. They mostly feed on small fish, shrimp, and crab but also eat isopods, fish eggs and larvae.