Spotted hawkfish

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Spotted hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys aprinus.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cirrhitidae
Genus: Cirrhitichthys
Species:
C. aprinus
Binomial name
Cirrhitichthys aprinus
(G. Cuvier, 1829)
Synonyms [2]
  • Cirrhites aprinusG. Cuvier, 1829
  • Cirrhites graphidopterus Bleeker, 1853
  • Cirrhitichthys analis Fowler, 1938

The spotted hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys aprinus), 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

The spotted hawkfish was first formally described as Cirrhites aprinus in 1829 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as Timor. [2] When the genus Cirrhitichthys was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1857 he used a species he had described in 1853, Cirrhites graphidopterus as its type species, [3] but this was later shown to be a synonym of Cuvier's C. aprinus. [2] The specific name aprinus means "boar-like", a reference to the large canine teeth in the sides of the lower jaws. [4]

Description

The spotted hawkfish has a body in which the standard length is around two and a half times its depth. [5] They have a strongly serrated preoperculum and a body which is covered in cycloid scales. [6] The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 12 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays. [7] The dorsal spines are tipped with short white filaments. The lower 7 pectoral fin rays are robust and unbranched. [6] The pelvic fins extend past the anus and the caudal fin is weakly emarginate. [5] This species attains a maximum total length of 12.5 cm (4.9 in). [7] The overall background colour of this species is whitish with wide dark reddish-brown vertical bars on the flanks. These are broken by light bars containing rhombus-shaped dark patches where they cross the lateral line. There is a pale-margined dark circular spot on the upper edge of the operculum and each eye has 3-4 dark bars radiating outwards from it. The caudal fin is translucent and unmarked. [8] [9]

Distribution and habitat

The spotted hawkfish is found from Sumatra eastwards to the Solomon Islands, north to the Philippines and the Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan and south to the eastern and western coasts of Australia. [1] In Australia they occur from Houtman Abrolhos Islands off Western Australia to the Timor Sea east of the Margaret Harries Bank, north of Melville Island in the Northern Territory. They then occur off the eastern coast from the northern Great Barrier Reef in Queensland south to Jervis Bay and maybe as far south to Merimbula, New South Wales. It is also found at the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. [8] There have been isolated records from the western Indian Ocean, these include reports from Aliwal Shoal off South Africa and the Maldives. [1] This is a common species inhabiting rocky and coral areas of coastal reefs below the low tide mark and which will also move into shallow harbours and estuaries. [7] It is found at depths between 5 and 40 m (16 and 131 ft). [1]

Biology

The spotted hawkfish is frequently encountered either as solitary fish or in small groups. [8] They perch on benthic invertebrates such as sponges and corals, using their thickened lower pectoral fin rays. [9] They feed on small fishes and crustaceans. [10] They are thought to be protogynous hermaphrodites and to be organised into harems of a single male and a small number of females. [8] When spawning a pair spirals upwards in the water column for less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in), the eggs are pelagic. [7]

Utilisation

The spotted hawkfish is rare in the aquarium trade. [1]

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>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">Arc-eye hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The arc-eye hawkfish, the ringeye hawkfish, horseshoe hawkfish or whiteline hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in shallow waters in the tropical Indo-Pacific on reefs, resting on coral heads much of the time.

<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">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>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 mascarenensis</i> Species of fish

Cirrhitops mascarenensis is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in the southwestern Indian 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.

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

The twospot hawkfish, or twinspot hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. it is found in the Indo-Pacific. It can be found in the aquarium trade.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Greenfield, D. & Williams, I. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Cirrhitichthys aprinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T67997172A115450822. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T67997172A68001651.en . Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Cirrhitichthys". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Cirrhitidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 11 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 10 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 Randall, J. E. (1963). "Review of the hawkfishes (family Cirrhitidae)". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 114 (3472): 389–451. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.114-3472.389.
  6. 1 2 "Cirrhitichthys aprinus (Cuvier, 1829)". HK Fish Net. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Cirrhitichthys aprinus". FishBase . June 2021 version.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Cirrhitichthys aprinus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Cirrhitichthys aprinus Cirrhitidae". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Cirrhitichthys aprinus". Saltcorner. Bob Goemans. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
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