Spotted Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1855)

Scientific name: Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Alternative name/s:
Pixy Hawkfish, Sharp-headed Hawkfish
Spotted Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Click to enlarge image
A Spotted Hawkfish at a depth of 15m, Lion Island, Bootless Bay, Papua New Guinea, 3 October 2010. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Cirrhitichthys
    Species
    oxycephalus
    Family
    Cirrhitidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    8.5 cm

Introduction

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

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.

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.