Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

Cirrhitidae
Spotted Hawkfish, Coral Hawkfish, Coral Hopper, Pixy Hawkfish, Sharp-headed Hawkfish
  • Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Adult, Bali, Indonesia, Photo: Ian Shaw
    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Adult, Bali, Indonesia, Photo: Ian Shaw
  • Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Malpelo,
    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Malpelo,
  • Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Photo: Sophie Edgar
    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Photo: Sophie Edgar
  • Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Photo: Graham Edgar
    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Photo: Graham Edgar
  • Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Photo: Graham Edgar
    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Photo: Graham Edgar
Distribution
Tropical Eastern Pacific, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Large, relatively evenly-sized blotches on body, spots on face, dorsal fin and tail, and dorsal spines with fine tassels. Spots on tail distinguish it from C. aprinus (Blotched Hawkfish) and lack of lines on face distinguish it from C. falco (Dwarf Hawkfish). Sits motionless on the reef amongst corals and sponges. Length to 10 cm.
Information
  • Max Size: 10 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 23.4-30.6°C
  • Depth: 1-40 m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef, Rocky Reef
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 19.5
    Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
  • Occurrence: Frequent (17% of sites)
    Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
  • Abundance: Many (27 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields
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