Flame hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Neocirrhites armatus
- Common name
- Flame hawkfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Cirrhitidae
- Genus
- Neocirrhites
- Size
- 6–9 cm
- Depth
- 3–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, territorial
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific
Description
Neocirrhites armatus reaches 9 cm. Vivid scarlet-red body, characteristic black-edged dorsal fin, black eyes. Strictly dependent on branching Pocillopora and Stylophora corals in which it lives and shelters. Territorial, males defend a specific colony. Central and western Pacific, rare in the Indian Ocean. From 3 to 30 m. A star of macro dives in Fiji, Papua, Solomon Islands. A highly sought photo and aquarium subject.
Photo of Flame hawkfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Flame hawkfish?
- Flame hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus) reaches 6–9 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Flame hawkfish?
- Flame hawkfish is found between 3–30 m deep.
- Is the Flame hawkfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Flame hawkfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Flame hawkfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific.
Other species in the family Cirrhitidae
- Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus - Coral hawkfish
- Cirrhitus rivulatus - Giant hawkfish
- Oxycirrhites typus - Longnose hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys falco - Falco hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys aprinus - Blotched hawkfish
- Paracirrhites forsteri - Blackside hawkfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 281678)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2375191)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia