Swallowtail hawkfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swallowtail hawkfish |
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The swallowtail hawkfish (Cyprinocirrhites polyactis), also called the lyretail hawkfish, is a colorful fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of hawkfish, which are known for perching on corals. You can find this fish in warm, tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It can grow up to about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. Sometimes, people keep these beautiful fish in home aquariums. It's special because it's the only fish in its group, or genus.
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What's in a Name?
Scientists give every animal a special name, like a first and last name, so everyone knows exactly which creature they are talking about. The swallowtail hawkfish was first described in 1874 by a Dutch scientist named Pieter Bleeker. He gave it the scientific name Cirrhitichthys polyactis.
Later, in 1917, a Japanese scientist named Shigeho Tanaka described a new fish he called Cyprinocirrhites ui. Even though scientists later realized it was the same fish Bleeker had described, Tanaka's group name, Cyprinocirrhites, was kept. The name polyactis means "many rayed." This refers to its dorsal fin, which has more soft rays than other hawkfish.
What Does It Look Like?
The swallowtail hawkfish stands out from other hawkfish because of two main things. First, its tail fin looks like a crescent moon, and both the top and bottom parts are long and flowing. Second, it has many soft rays in its dorsal fin, which is the fin on its back.
Its dorsal fin has 10 strong spines, each with tiny threads at the tip. It also has 16 to 17 soft rays, with the first one being extra long. The fin on its belly, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 6 or 7 soft rays. Its special tail fin has the very top and bottom rays extending into long, thin filaments. The lower rays of its pectoral fins (on its sides) are also longer than the others.
This fish can grow up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Its body color is usually orange to brownish-orange. It often has orange-red or brownish blotches, which are like irregular spots, on its body.
Where Does It Live?
The swallowtail hawkfish lives in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region. You can find it from the coasts of South and East Africa, all the way across the Indian Ocean to places like Palau, Melanesia, and Fiji. It also lives as far north as Japan and south to Australia.
In Australia, it's found off the coast of Western Australia and along the famous Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. It can even be seen as far south as southern New South Wales. This fish likes to live in deeper waters, usually between 10 and 132 meters (about 33 to 433 feet) deep. It prefers steep underwater slopes and small coral heads where ocean currents are strong.
How Does It Live?
Unlike most other hawkfish, which usually stay close to the bottom of the ocean, the swallowtail hawkfish likes to swim higher up. It often stays several meters above the seafloor. It mostly eats tiny animals that float in the water, like small crustaceans and other zooplankton. These are like microscopic snacks for the fish!
In the Aquarium
Because of its beautiful colors and interesting behavior, the swallowtail hawkfish is sometimes kept in home aquariums. It's a popular choice for people who enjoy marine fish tanks.
