Species profile—Cirrhitichthys falco (dwarf hawkfish)
Classification
Animalia (animals) → Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) → Cirrhitidae (hawkfishes) → Cirrhitichthys falco (dwarf hawkfish)
Sighting data
Species details
- Kingdom
- Animalia (animals)
- Class
- Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
- Family
- Cirrhitidae (hawkfishes)
- Scientific name
- Cirrhitichthys falco Randall, 1963
- Common name
- dwarf hawkfish
- WildNet taxon ID
- 32109
- Alternate name(s)
- coral hawkfish
falcon hawkfish - Conservation significant
- No
- Wetland status
- Wetland Dependant Species
- Endemicity
- Native
- Pest status
- Nil
- Description
- The dwarf hawkfish has a whitish body with red spots that form diagonal bands. There are two thin red lines extending downward from the eye. Yellow tufts of small, thin appendages (cirri) are present near the tip of each dorsal fin spine, along the backbone. The species grows to 7cm in length.
- Distribution
- The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the western Pacific. In Australia, it is found from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales, including Elizabeth Reef, Tasman Sea.
- Distributional limits
- 0, 0
0, 0 - Species environment
- Marine
- Habitat
- The dwarf hawkfish inhabits coral reefs of inshore waters to depths of about 45m.
- Behaviour
- Dwarf hawkfish occur either solitary or in pairs. Hawkfish are generally observed perched on their thickened pectoral fins. They sit in this manner on the bottom, while observing their surroundings for food. Hawkfish have excellent eyesight, enabling them to see prey from a long distance.
- Diet
- Hawkfish feed on shrimp, worms and other small prey.
- Notes
- Contributors: Mellisa Mayhew 16/10/2008; Wayne Martin 09/11/2008
- References
- Egerton, L. (ed.) (2005). Encyclopedia of Australian Wildlife, (Revised Edition). Readers Digest Pty Ltd, Sydney.
Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. (2006). Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Volume 35.2, p. 1345. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood.
Kuiter, R.H. (1996). Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland Ltd, Sydney.
McGrouther, M. (2004). Find a Fish: Dwarf Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys falco Randall, 1963. Australian Museum, Sydney, accessed 16/10/2008, [http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/cfalco.htm]. - Profile author
- Mellisa Mayhew (09/11/2008)
Other resources
Data source
This profile data is sourced from the QLD Wildlife Data API using the Get species by ID function used under CC-By 4.0.
https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species/?op=getspeciesbyid&taxonid=32109.
This information is sourced from the WildNet database managed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.
