Animal Species:Blotched Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys aprinus (Cuvier, 1829)

The Blotched Hawkfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate marine waters. Found in and around sponges on rocky reefs and shallow estuaries.

A Blotched Hawkfish at Port Hacking

A Blotched Hawkfish at Port Hacking
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

The Blotched Hawkfish has large, irregular shaped blotches on the sides of the body. There is a distinct spot on the operculum behind the eye and cirri on the tips of the dorsal spines.

Size range

The species grows to 12 cm in length.

Distribution

The Blotched Hawkfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from the southern to central coasts of Western Australia and from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Cirrhitichthys aprinus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Blotched Hawkfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Other behaviours and adaptations

Like most of the hawkfishes, this species is often observed motionless on the bottom, propped up on its thickened lower pectoral fin rays.

Classification

Species:
aprinus
Genus:
Cirrhitichthys
Family:
Cirrhitidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  6. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  7. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


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Tags fish, ichthyology, Blotched Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys aprinus, Cirrhitidae, brown, white, odd shaped, 10 cm - 30 cm, blotches/mottled, marine, adult,