Lyretail Hawkfish, Cyprinocirrhites polyactis (Bleeker, 1875)
Swallowtail Hawkfish
Click to enlarge image
© Matt Dowse
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Cyprinocirrhites
- Species
- polyactis
- Family
- Cirrhitidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 15 cm in length.
Introduction
The Lyretail Hawkfish has numerous short filaments at the tip of each dorsal spine. The species occurs in tropical and warm temperate marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
Identification
The Lyretail Hawkfish has numerous short filaments at the tip of each dorsal spine. It has a greatly elongated first dorsal ray (in the middle of the dorsal fin), long lower pectoral rays and a lunate caudal fin with filamentous upper an lower rays. Its colour varies from pink to brown.
It differs from the other Australian species of hawkfishes by its shorter snout and lunate caudal fin. Lyre-tail Hawkfish resembles the tropical fairy basslets in looks and behaviour, but can be distinguished by the long first dorsal ray that projects from the middle of the dorsal fin.
Habitat
Most Australian species of hawkfishes are usually seen on the bottom. The Lyretail Hawkfish is atypical because it is often seen well off the bottom.
Distribution
The Lyretail Hawkfish occurs in tropical and warm temperate marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it is known from Western Australia and from the Great Barrier Reef, 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.
Feeding and diet
The species feeds on zooplankton.
References
- 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.
- 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.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
