Animal Species:Spotted Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1855)

The Spotted Hawkfish is a small cirrhitid fish that occurs widely throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific.

Spotted Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

Spotted Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Pixy Hawkfish, Sharp-headed Hawkfish

Size range

8.5 cm

Distribution

It occurs widely throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from tropical waters of Western Australia and from northern Queensland to the central coast of 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 oxycephalus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Spotted Hawkfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

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

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Spotted Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Cirrhitidae, red, orange, pink, white, deep bodied, < 10 cm, blotches/mottled, rocky reef, marine, adult, large eyes,