Longnose hawkfish

Oxycirrhites typus

Occurring in

Indian Ocean
Red Sea

12-100m

DayActive

not endangered

Its red tartan pattern undoubtedly makes it unmistakable. The sharpest snout in the underwater kingdom and a tartan skirt. Its primary color is white with a red checkered pattern that adorns its flanks.

Habitat

Coral reef

Special features

Its red tartan pattern undoubtedly makes it unmistakable.

Appearance

The sharpest snout in the underwater kingdom and a tartan skirt. Its primary color is white with a red checkered pattern that adorns its flanks. The tiny tufts of thread that give him his name are enthroned on the tips of the rays of his dorsal fin. His eyes are globular to the left and right of his pointed snout.

Natural enemies

Predatory fish

Dangerous/Venomous

The long-snouted hawkfish is neither dangerous nor venomous.

Sketch

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1. Sharp snout

2. Tartan skirt-like pattern

Pro tips

This unique little guy likes romping on steep, flowed outer reefs. There he sits on the fans of large fan gorgonias and the bushes of black coral. From this position, he grabs plankton from the current. Occasionally, he also approves small crabs living on the ground.
They are so-called protogynous hermaphrodites, which means that they become sexually mature as females but can convert into a male should there be a need.

By the way, they are also called "Korallenwächter" coral guards in German, which is due to their hunting behavior. This is also the case with the English species name “hawkeye”, because they watch what is happening around them from a raised position and snap forward at lightning speed and grab their prey.
The tiny clusters at the ends of their dorsal fin rays are responsible for their German name "Büschelbarsch".

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Text: Carolina Leiter

Pic: Felician Hosp

Illustration: Dive Dict