Cirrhitichthys

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Cirrhitichthys
Cirrhitichthys aprinus.JPG
Spotted Hawkfish, (C. aprinus)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cirrhitidae
Genus: Cirrhitichthys
Bleeker, 1857
Type species
Cirrhites graphidopterus
Bleeker, 1853 [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Acanthocirrhitus Fowler, 1938
  • Cirrhitopsis Gill, 1862

Cirrhitichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, hawkfishes, from the family Cirrhitidae. They are found on tropical reefs in the Indian and western Pacific oceans. Some species can be found in the aquarium trade.

Contents

Taxonomy

Cirrhitichthys was first formally described in 1857 by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker. The type species designated by Bleeker was Cirrhites graphidopterus which had been described by him in 1853, [1] although this taxon has subsequently been considered a synonym of Cirrhites aprinus which Georges Cuvier had described in 1829. [2] The name of this genus is a compound of Cirrhitus , referring to the similarity between the two genera, although there are differences in dentition, and ichthys meaning “fish”. [3]

Species

The currently recognized species in this genus are: [4]

Characteristics

Cirrhitichthys hawkfishes have an oval, moderately compressed body with a sharp, more or less straight-profiled snout. The anterior nostril has a tuft of cirri on its posterior margin. The mouth is moderately large with a row of small canine-like teeth on the jaws and a band of simple teeth within the outer band. There are patches of teeth on the middle and sides of the roof of the mouth. The margin of the preoperculum has quite large serrations and the gill cover has 2 flattened spines. The dorsal fin is continuous, with 10 spines and 11-12 soft rays, there is a slight incision between the spines and the soft rays. The membranes between the dorsal fin spines deeply notched and each spine has a sizeable tuft of cirri at its tip. The anal fin has 3 spines and 5-7 soft rays. The caudal fin is truncate. The lower 5-7 pectoral fin rays are robust with deep incisions in the membranes between them and they are notably longer than the other rays. The upper 1-2 and lower 6-7 pectoral fin rays are simple. The pelvic fin has a single spine and 5 soft rays and has its origin to the rear of the base of the pectoral fin. [5] Their total length varies from 7 cm (2.8 in) in the dwarf hawkfish (C.s falco) and 14 cm (5.5 in) in the yellow hawkfish (C. aureus). [4]

Distribution and habitat

Cirrhitichthys hawkfishes are mainly found in the Indo-West Pacific [4] with one species, the coral hawkfish (C. oxycephalus) extending into the eastern Pacific. [5] These fishes are associated with coral and rocky habitats. [6]

Biology

Cirrhitichthys hawkfishes are predatory, using the "sit and wait" technique to ambush benthic prey which can be invertebrates or fish, perching on their thickened lower pectoral fin rays among sponges and corals. [7] They are protogynous hermaphrodites, all start out as female and live in harems, if the male is lost the largest and more dominant female will change sex. [8] They are pelagic spawners rising upwards into the water column in pairs to spawn. [9]

Utilisation

Cirrhitichthys hawkfishes are collected for the aquarium trade. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrhitidae</span> Family of fishes

Cirrhitidae, the hawkfishes, are a family of marine perciform ray-finned fishes found in tropical seas and which are associated with coral reefs.

<i>Chironemus</i> Genus of fishes

Chironemus is a genus of marine ray finned fish, commonly known as kelpfishes, belonging to the family Chironemidae. They are found in the temperate waters of the Southern Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The spotted hawkfish, the blotched hawkfish, redbarred hawkfish, boar hawkfish or threadfin hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region. A common species, it is found in rocky and coral areas of subtidal coastal reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The giant hawkfish, also known as the hieroglyphic hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is a marine fish and the largest of the hawkfish family with maximum size of 60 cm (24 in) in total length. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longnose hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The longnose hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, where it can be found at depths around 10 to 100 m. It prefers the steep outer slopes of the reefs amongst gorgonians and black corals. This species can reach 13 cm (5.1 in) in total length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member in its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flame hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The flame hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is native to tropical reefs of the Pacific Ocean at depths of from 1 to 10 metres. This species is also found in the aquarium trade. It is the only known member of its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The coral hawkfish, the pixy hawkfish or sharp-headed hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is native to tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It occasionally is found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Cirrhitichthys aureus</i> Species of fish

Cirrhitichthys aureus, the yellow hawkfish, the golden hawkfish or golden curlyfin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is native to tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Paracirrhites xanthus</i> Species of fish

Paracirrhites xanthus, the yellow hawkfish or the blueline yellow hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. it is found in the eastern central Pacific. It can be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redspotted hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The redspotted hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found at depths from 2 to 46 m on tropical reefs in the Western Atlantic. The Redspotted Hawkfish is also found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Paracirrhites</i> Genus of fishes

Paracirrhites is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, hawkfishes belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. These fishes are found on tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

<i>Amblycirrhitus</i> Genus of fishes

Amblycirrhitus is a genus of ray-finned fishes, hawkfishes belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. These fishes are found on tropical reefs worldwide.

<i>Cirrhitops</i> Genus of fishes

Cirrhitops is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, hawkfishes from the family Cirrhitidae. They are found on tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

<i>Cirrhitus</i> Genus of fishes

Cirrhitus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, hawkfishes from the family Cirrhitidae. The species in this genus are found on tropical reefs worldwide.

The blackspotted hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is native to rocky shores of the western Indian Ocean. This species grows to 17 cm (6.7 in) in total length. This species is the only known member of its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swallowtail hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The swallowtail hawkfish, also known as the lyretail hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on to tropical reefs in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. This species grows to 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length. It is also found in the aquarium trade. This species is the only known member of its genus.

The sixband hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean. This species grows to 7.8 cm (3.1 in) in standard length. This species is the only known member of its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splendid hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The splendid hawkfish, also known as mottled hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redbarred hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The redbarred hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.

<i>Cirrhitops hubbardi</i> Species of fish

Cirrhitops hubbardi, Hubbard's hawkfish or the white-spotted hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Cirrhitidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Cirrhitichthys". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  3. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (25 February 2021). "Order CENTRARCHIFORMES: Families CENTRARCHIDAE, ELASSOMATIDAE, ENOPLOSIDAE, SINIPERCIDAE, APLODACTYLIDAE, CHEILODACTYLIDAE, CHIRONEMIDAE, CIRRHITIDAE, LATRIDAE, PERCICHTHYIDAE, DICHISTIIDAE, GIRELLIDAE, KUHLIIDAE, KYPHOSIDAE, OPLEGNATHIDAE, TERAPONTIDAE, MICROCANTHIDAE and SCORPIDIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Cirrhitichthys". FishBase . June 2021 version.
  5. 1 2 "Genus: Cirrhitichthys, Hawkfishes". Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Fish Search Search Result". HK Fish Net. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "Cirrhitichthys aprinus Cirrhitidae". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Hawkfishes". Saltcorner. Bob Goemans. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus". FishBase . June 2021 version.
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