WHATSTHATFISH
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Bony fish

Lyretail Hawkfish

Cyprinocirrhites polyactis

Also known as: Many-rayed Handfish, Red Hawkfish, Soaring Hawkfish, Swallowtail Hawkfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
Add a photo
Adult
@blogie · Dayang Beach Dive Site, Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · December 20111 / 4
01

Overview

Found singly, perched on corals and rocks, or hovering above bottoms, close to small coral heads and sponges, over steep slopes exposed to currents.

Hawkfish can be found perched as if 'standing on their fins' in the branches or on top of corals and rocks waiting for their prey. If approached by predators they quickly dart away to hide.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
black spot
Behaviour
ambush predatorhoveringperchessolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found singly, perched on corals and rocks, or hovering above bottoms, close to small coral heads and sponges, over steep slopes exposed to currents.

RANGE
04

Adult photos 4

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderCentrarchiformes
    5. familyCirrhitidae
    6. genusCyprinocirrhites
    7. speciesCyprinocirrhites polyactis (Bleeker, 1874)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Hawkfishes (Cirrhitidae)

    Arc-eye Hawkfish

    Paracirrhites arcatus

    20 photos

    Blackside Hawkfish

    Paracirrhites forsteri

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    Bleekeri Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys bleekeri

    1 photo

    Cave Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys guichenoti

    2 photos

    Coral Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

    18 photos

    Dwarf Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys falco

    18 photos

    Giant Hawkfish

    Cirrhitus rivulatus

    11 photos

    Longnose Hawkfish

    Oxycirrhites typus

    23 photos

    Red-spotted Hawkfish

    Amblycirrhitus pinos

    9 photos

    Splendid Hawkfish

    Notocirrhitus splendens

    1 photo

    Spotted Hawkfish

    Cirrhitichthys aprinus

    4 photos

    Stocky Hawkfish

    Cirrhitus pinnulatus

    6 photos