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HAWKFISH - CIRRHITIDAE

Hawkfish-info

The hawkfish population number around thirty-five different species, of which seventeen can be found in the Indian Ocean. Active during the day and largely solitary, they are one of the fish family that live their life solely on the reef. Hawkfish are bad swimmers and prefer to hang out on corals, standing motionless on their long pectoral fins. They always try to find a strategic spot on the edge of the reef where their rolling eyes observe the surroundings. In case of any danger, they quickly hide between corals, cracks and in holes. Their pectoral fins are long and have finger-looking ends which they use to stand on as anchors when there is a strong current. They are not really good hunters but feed on small crustaceans and fish. It has been observed before that a longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites types) took advantage of a photographer’s light to spot a pigmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) and ate it in front of the lens. Hawkfish grow up as females and can change sex if they want to. Every male has a harem which he protects very well. Mating takes place during and after sunset. They swim up as a pair towards the surface, where the female will release the eggs in open water. The larvae live a pelagic life for a few weeks and than settle themselves on a reef somewhere. This long period is maybe the reason why they are so well spread around the coral kingdom.

- Check the sub-map for the specimen information files -
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