Ryan Photographic - Cirrhitidae - Hawkfishes

Family Cirrhitidae

The family Cirrhitidae are more familiarly known as the hawkfishes. They apparently gain this common name from their habit of perching on high vantage points and swooping downwards in lightning fast attacks on prey items. They range in size from small to quite large. The giant hawkfish (pictured below) reaches 4kg - but most are much smaller than this. Smaller specimens are popular in the aquarium trade as they are colorful and easy to keep. Sadly, only the longnose hawkfish has been bred in captivity so apart from this species all others are wild caught - often using dubious methods. According to fishbase there are 33 species in 12 genera. The family name is derived from filaments or cirri that extend from the dorsal fin ray strands.

Cirrhitichthys falco Dwarf hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys falco Dwarf hawkfish, Fiji.

Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Pixy hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Pixy hawkfish photographed in Kadavu, Fiji.

FISH 5346 Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Coral hawkfish, Sea of Cortez

FISH 5349 Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Coral hawkfish, Sea of Cortez

Cirrhitus rivulatus, Giant hawkfish

FISH 5431 Cirrhitus rivulatus, Giant hawkfish, Sea of Cortez.

Oxycirrhites typus Longnose hawkfish

Longnose hawkfish Oxycirrhites typus on seafan, Fiji.

Paracirrhites arcatus Arc-eye hawkfish

Paracirrhites arcatus Arc-eye hawkfish on Acropora coral, Kadavu, Fiji.

Paracirrhites forsteri Freckled hawkfish

FISH 2932 Paracirrhites forsteri Freckled hawkfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

FISH 9344 Paracirrhites forsteri Freckled hawkfish, unusual color variant, Kadavu, Fiji .

Paracirrhites forsteri Freckled hawkfish

Paracirrhites forsteri Freckled hawkfish Fiji

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