Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Spotted Hawkfish
©Lyle Vail: Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus on the exposed side of South Island, Lizard Island Group. Note spots on tail.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Cirrhitidae
Genus
Cirrhitichthys
Species
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Colours
Distinguishing features
A small hawkfish usually with white ground colour and red/brown markings on body and fins, but a darker red form also occurs. In both forms, there are spots on the tail, no stripes under the eye and no dark, pale-edged spot on the gill cover.
Size
- Up to 9 cm (Length of specimen)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
Dwarf Hawkfish (species: Cirrhitichthys falco)
has a pair of bars below the eye. -
Animalia:
Blotched Hawkfish (species: Cirrhitichthys aprinus)
does not have spots on the tail and does have an ocellated dark spot on the gill cover.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990). Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.