Paracirrhites xanthus was first formally described in 1963 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall with the type locality given as Takapoto Atoll in the Tuamotu Islands.

It has been suggested that these are actually colour morphs of the same polymorphic species which has undergone some introgression of genes from the widespread and also sympatric arc-eye hawkfish (P.

[3] The specific name xanthus means “yellow”, a reference to the colour of this species.

[7] The overall colour is vivid yellow with indistinct horizontal lines and a short vioet-blue stripe behind the eye.

[1] Paracirrhites xanthus is a solitary species[8] which sits on the top of corals from where it ambushes its prey, mostly crustaceans.