Hawkfish - Cirrhitidae
HAWKFISH - CIRRHITIDAE The hawkfish population number around thirty-five different species, of which seventeen can be found in the Indian Ocean. Active during the day and largely solitary, they are one of the fish family that live their life solely on the reef. Hawkfish are bad swimmers and prefer to hang out on corals, standing motionless on their long pectoral fins. They always try to find a strategic spot on the edge of the reef where their rolling eyes observe the surroundings. In case of any danger, they quickly hide between corals, cracks and in holes. Their pectoral fins are long and have finger-looking ends which they use to stand on as anchors when there is a strong current. They are not really good hunters but feed on small crustaceans and fish. It has been observed before that a longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites types) took advantage of a photographer’s light to spot a pigmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) and ate it in front of the lens. Hawkfish grow up as females and can change sex if they want to. Every male has a harem which he protects very well. Mating takes place during and after sunset. They swim up as a pair towards the surface, where the female will release the eggs in open water. The larvae live a pelagic life for a few weeks and than settle themselves on a reef somewhere. This long period is maybe the reason why they are so well spread around the coral kingdom. Length: 12 cm. Distribution: Malaysian peninsula to SW-Japan, Papua New Guinea and G.B.R. A common species, no spots on the tailfin. Dark spot behind the eye. Mostly seen sitting on sponges and gorgonia corals. Feeds on bentic crustaceans and fishes during the day. Subtidal coastal reefs, in rocky or coralline areas to -40 m. Length: 14 cm. Distribution: from East Africa to SW- Japan, Hawaii, French Polynesia and Australia. From olive to reddish-brown with or without white stripe on upper-side. Yellow, red and pale blue arc-shaped lines behind the eyes. Three orange and four pale blue dashes on lower part of gill plate. Perches on Stylophora, Pocillopora and Acropora coral heads, in clear lagoons and outer reefs, from -1 to -35 m. Length: 13 cm. Distribution: from the Red Sea to Panama, S- Japan, Hawaiian Is. and New Caledonia. Long snouth, white underground with red grating pattern and white belly. Inhabits gorgonians and black corals, feeds on small bentic or planktonic crustaceans. Prefers dropoffs, from 12 to -100 m., usually below -25 m. Length: 22 cm. Distribution: from the Red Sea and S- Africa to S- Japan and French Polynesia. A common species, red to black freckles on the head. Most specimen with yellow stripe on sides and back. Among lagoon and seaward reefs, from -1 to -33 m. Perches on rock, Stylophora, Pocillopora and Acropora corals. Feeds primarily on small fishes and occasionally on shrimps. Length: 9 cm. Distribution: Philippines, Sunda Is., Great Barrier Reef, Ryukyus and New Caledonia. Red body, back and begin of dorsal fin are black. Dark area around the eye. Inhabits heads of Stylophora and Pocillopora corals on exposed seaward reefs, from 1 to -10 m. Retreats deep into the corals when approached. Length: 15 cm. Distribution: from E- Africa to SW- Japan and Australia. Orange-brown, becomes paler towards belly and tail base. Forked tail. The females are smaller and a bit darker. Often together with anthias. The only hawkfish that hovers in water column to feed on planktonic crustaceans and larvae. On current-exposed walls and slopes, from -10 to -132 m. Length: 30 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to S.W- Japan, Hawaii, Fr. Polynesia and Australia. Probably the largest of the hawkfish family. Brown-green body with numerous brownand dark red spots mixed with some larger white spots. Feeds on crabs, other small crustacean and small fishes. Solitary, on rocky shorelines exposed to a strong surge, to -3 m. Length: 10 cm. Distribution: Red Sea and E- Africa to Panama, Philippines, Mariana Is., N. Caledonia. White to pink body colour, irregular red-brown spots on body, head, dorsal and tail fin. The deeper living specimen mostly a bit darker. Similar to C. aprinus, which has occelated spot on the gill plates. Solitary, in lagoons and on coastal- and outer reefs with moderate coral growth. From -1 to -40 m. Length: 7 cm. Distribution: Maldives to Samoa, Ryukyus and New Caledonia. A common and not shy species, two red stripes below the eyes. Typically at the bases of hardcoral heads. On seaward reefs with moderate to rich coral growth, from -4 to -46 m.
Hawkfish info.

Hawkfish info.

Cirrhitichthys aprinus - Threadfin hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys aprinus - Threadfin hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys falco - Dwarf hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys falco - Dwarf hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus - Pixy hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus - Pixy hawkfish

Cirrhitus pinnulatus - Stocky hawkfish

Cirrhitus pinnulatus - Stocky hawkfish

Cyprinocirrhites polyactis - Swallowtail hawkfish

Cyprinocirrhites polyactis - Swallowtail hawkfish

Neocirrihites armatus - Flame hawkfish

Neocirrihites armatus - Flame hawkfish

Oxycirrhites Typus - Longnose hawkfish

Oxycirrhites Typus - Longnose hawkfish

Paracirrhites forsteri - Freckled hawkfish

Paracirrhites forsteri - Freckled hawkfish

Paracirrhites arcatus - Arc-eye hawkfish

Paracirrhites arcatus - Arc-eye hawkfish