Coral hawkfish

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Coral hawkfish
Pez halcon de coral (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus), Zanzibar, Tanzania, 2024-05-29, DD 08.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Centrarchiformes
Family: Cirrhitidae
Genus: Cirrhitichthys
Species:
C. oxycephalus
Binomial name
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
(Bleeker, 1855)
Synonyms [2]
  • Cirrhites oxycephalusBleeker, 1855
  • Cirrhites grandimaculatus F. Liénard, 1891
  • Cirrhites murrayi Regan, 1909
  • Cirrhitichthys corallicola Tee-Van, 1940
Close up. Pez halcon de coral (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus), mar Rojo, Egipto, 2023-04-17, DD 62.jpg
Close up.

The coral hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus), 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

The coral hawkfish was first formally described as Cirrhites oxycephalus in 1855 by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker with the type locality given as Ambon Island. [3] The specific name is a compound of oxy meaning "pointed" and cephalus meaning "head", a reference to the sharp snout of this species. [4]

Description

The coral hawkfish has an oval, moderately compressed body with a pointed snout which has a straight profile. There is a fringe of cirri on the posterior edge of the anterior nostril. The mouth is moderately large and has a row of small canine-like teeth on the outer jaw with a band of simple teeth on the inner jaws. They have teeth on the middle and sides of the roof of mouth. There are large serrations on the preoperculum and the gill cover has 2 flattened spines. [5] The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 12-13 soft rays, while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 6 soft rays. [2] The dorsal fin is continuous with a notch separating the spiny and soft rayed parts of the fin, while the membranes between the spines are deeply incised and each spine has a tuft of cirri at its tip. The caudal fin is truncate. The lower 5-7 pectoral fin rays are robust, notably longer than other pectoral fin rays and separated by deep incisions in their membrane. The uppermost 1-2 and the lowest 6-7 pectoral fin rays are not branched. The pelvic fin has a single spines and 5 soft rays and starts origin behind the base of the pectoral fin. [5] The maximum recorded total length of this species is 10 cm (3.9 in). [2] This is a variably coloured species, the background colour varying from whitish to pink marked with reddish-brown to greyish or bright reddish-orange blotches, smallest along the lateral line. The spiny part of the dorsal fin has large spots while the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin is spotted, as is the caudal fin. [6] The pectoral fins are pinkish red in colour while the pelvic fins are transparent. [7]

Distribution and habitat

The coral hawkfish has a wide distribution in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They occur from the Red Sea south along the coast of East Africa as far south as South Africa and east across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific Ocean to the Marquesas Islands south to Australia and north to Japan. It is also found in the eastern tropical Pacific, from the Gulf of California south to Colombia and the Galapagos. [1] They live in areas of dense coral growth and in the clear waters of lagoon, channel or outer reefs where they prefer to be underneath the surge zone, occurring at depths down to at least 40 m (130 ft). [2]

Biology

The coral hawkfish is normally observed perching on top of soft corals and sponges, [8] they will also rest beneath hard and soft corals, ambushing crustaceans and small fishes that pass their station. Like the other hawkfishes, the adult coral hawkfish does not have a swimbladder and they hop from "perch" to "perch" like the hawks they are named after. [9] The males are territorial and guard harems of females. [2] This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. the juveniles are females and some will change sex to become into males as they mature. [9] They are pelagic spawners and the spawning pair ascend into the water column. [2]

Aquarium trade

The coral hawkfish is occasionally found in the aquarium trade. [10]

Related Research Articles

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

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

<i>Cirrhitichthys</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<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">Dwarf hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The dwarf hawkfish,, is a small species of hawkfish found on tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific region from the Maldives to the Caroline Islands and Samoa. It can sometimes be found in the aquarium trade.

<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.

<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.

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

The whitespot hawkfish, the halfspotted hawkfish, multicolored hand-fish and ornate hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<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.

<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.

<i>Cirrhitus pinnulatus</i> Species of fish

Cirrhitus pinnulatus, the stocky hawkfish, whitespotted hawkfish or marbled hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.

References

  1. 1 2 Greenfield, D. & Williams, I. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T67997668A115451295. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T67997668A68001661.en . Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus". FishBase . June 2021 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Cirrhitichthys". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. ↑ 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 13 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Species: Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Coral hawkfish". Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Dianne J. Bray. "Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "Coral Hawkfish". Mexican Fish. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Coral Hawkfish Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus". Maidenhead Aquatics. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus". Saltcorner. Bob Goemans. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
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