Longnose Hawkfish

Oxycirrhites typus

The longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) is a marine ray-finned fish in the hawkfish family Cirrhitidae. It lives on tropical reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans at depths of roughly 10 to 100 m, favouring steep outer reef slopes among gorgonians and black corals. The species grows to about 13 cm (5.1 in) long, appears in the aquarium trade, and is currently the only known member of its genus.

Family

Cirrhitidae

Avg Size

10-13 cm

Habitat

The longnose hawkfish has a broad Indo-Pacific range. In the Indian Ocean it occurs from the Red Sea down the East African coast to northern Mozambique and Madagascar, and across to the Pacific, where it reaches east to the Hawaiian and Society Islands, north to Japan and south to Australia. In Australian waters it is found from offshore Western Australia and the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea to Queensland, as well as at Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Behaviour

The longnose hawkfish hunts small bottom-dwelling or planktonic crustaceans. It is territorial and generally uncommon to rare across much of its range. It spawns in open water, forming distinct monogamous pairs to breed.

Where & When to See It

The Islands

Longnose Hawkfish

Where & When to See It

More Fish