Coral hawkfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coral hawkfish |
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The coral hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) is a cool marine fish. It's also known as the pixy hawkfish or sharp-headed hawkfish. This fish belongs to a group called hawkfishes.
You can find coral hawkfish living in tropical reefs. They live in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, people even keep them in home aquariums.
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About the Coral Hawkfish Name
A Dutch fish expert named Pieter Bleeker first described the coral hawkfish in 1855. He gave it the scientific name Cirrhites oxycephalus.
The name oxycephalus is special. "Oxy" means "pointed," and "cephalus" means "head." This name perfectly describes the fish's sharp, pointed snout!
What Does a Coral Hawkfish Look Like?
The coral hawkfish has an oval body that is a bit flat from side to side. It has a pointed snout. There are tiny fringes, like little hairs, near its front nostril.
Its mouth is a good size. It has small, sharp teeth on the outside of its jaw. Inside, it has bands of simpler teeth. The fish also has teeth on the roof of its mouth.
Its dorsal fin (on its back) has 10 strong spines and 12-13 soft rays. The anal fin (on its belly) has 3 spines and 6 soft rays. Each spine on the dorsal fin has a small tuft of fringes at its tip.
The bottom 5-7 rays of its pectoral fins (side fins) are strong and longer than the others. These rays are separated by deep cuts in the fin's membrane. The tail fin is flat at the end.
This fish comes in many colors! Its main color can be whitish or pink. It has reddish-brown, grayish, or bright reddish-orange blotches. These blotches are smallest along its side.
The spiny part of the dorsal fin has large spots. The soft part of the dorsal fin and the tail fin are also spotted. The pectoral fins are reddish-pink, and the pelvic fins (bottom fins) are clear. The biggest coral hawkfish can grow up to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long.
Where Do Coral Hawkfish Live?
Coral hawkfish live in a huge area across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. You can find them from the Red Sea all the way down to South Africa. They also live east across the Indian Ocean to the Marquesas Islands. They are found south to Australia and north to Japan.
They also live in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This includes places like the Gulf of California and the Galapagos Islands.
These fish love clear water and areas with lots of coral. They live in lagoons, channels, or outer reefs. They prefer to stay below the strong wave action, at depths of up to 40 meters (130 feet) or more.
Life and Habits of the Coral Hawkfish
Coral hawkfish are often seen perching on top of soft corals and sponges. They also like to rest under hard and soft corals. They wait there to ambush and catch small crustaceans and tiny fish that swim by.
Like other hawkfishes, adult coral hawkfish do not have a swimbladder. A swimbladder helps most fish float. Because they don't have one, they "hop" from one perch to another. This is why they are named after hawks, which perch and then swoop!
Male coral hawkfish are very protective of their space. They guard groups of females.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Coral hawkfish are special because they can change their sex. Young fish are usually female. As they get older, some of them will change into males.
When it's time to lay eggs, a male and female pair will swim up into the open water. They release their eggs and sperm there. This is called "pelagic spawning."
Coral Hawkfish in Aquariums
Sometimes, you can find coral hawkfish for sale in the aquarium trade. People enjoy keeping them in their home fish tanks.
