Longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Oxycirrhites typus
- Common name
- Longnose hawkfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Cirrhitidae
- Genus
- Oxycirrhites
- Size
- 10–13 cm
- Depth
- 10–132 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Eastern Pacific
Description
Oxycirrhites typus reaches 13 cm. Distinctive Indo-Pacific hawkfish with elongated body with very long pointed snout (hence oxycirrhites), cream-white pattern crossed by fine red lines forming characteristic hexagonal grid. Lives from 10 to 132 m exclusively perched on large gorgonians (Melithaea, Subergorgia, Annella) of coral drop-offs of entire Indo-Pacific. Iconic and sought-after macro photo subject in Lembeh, Anilao, Maldives dives. Unique silhouette in the genus.
Photo of Longnose hawkfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Longnose hawkfish?
- Longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) reaches 10–13 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Longnose hawkfish?
- Longnose hawkfish is found between 10–132 m deep.
- Is the Longnose hawkfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Longnose hawkfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Longnose hawkfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the family Cirrhitidae
- Neocirrhites armatus - Flame hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus - Coral hawkfish
- Cirrhitus rivulatus - Giant hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys falco - Falco hawkfish
- Cirrhitichthys aprinus - Blotched hawkfish
- Paracirrhites forsteri - Blackside hawkfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 218865)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2375203)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia