Home · Cirrhitidae · Hubbard's hawkfish
Hubbard's hawkfish (Cirrhitops hubbardi) — Cirrhitidae

Hubbard's hawkfish

Cirrhitops hubbardi
Family: Cirrhitidae

The Hubbard's hawkfish (Cirrhitops hubbardi) is a saltwater fish of the family Cirrhitidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: French Polynesia, Kiribati, Japan, Philippines, Pitcairn, Ogasawara Is.

Want the complete picture on the Hubbard's hawkfish?

Get the app

Description

Hubbard's hawkfish is a hawkfish (Cirrhitidae) from reef water of the central Pacific, including Hawaii. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a stocky, red-brown mottled body and thickened, undivided lower pectoral rays on which it perches motionless on coral and rock as if on legs. From that lookout it darts out at small crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hubbard's hawkfish?

The Hubbard's hawkfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Hubbard's hawkfish live?

The Hubbard's hawkfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: French Polynesia, Kiribati, Japan, Philippines, Pitcairn, Ogasawara Is.

How big does the Hubbard's hawkfish get?

The Hubbard's hawkfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Hubbard's hawkfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Hubbard's hawkfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Hubbard's hawkfish (Cirrhitops hubbardi) — Cirrhitidae — 2
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Hubbard's hawkfish (Cirrhitops hubbardi) — Cirrhitidae — 3
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Hubbard's hawkfish (Cirrhitops hubbardi) — Cirrhitidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Joe Rowlett, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hubbard's hawkfish (Cirrhitops hubbardi) — Cirrhitidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Malcolm Francis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Hubbard's hawkfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Hubbard's hawkfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Hubbard's hawkfish sourced
Scientific name
Cirrhitops hubbardi
Family
Cirrhitidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Oceania: French Polynesia, Kiribati, Japan, Philippines, Pitcairn, Ogasawara Is. sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Cirrhitops

More from the family Cirrhitidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Hubbard's hawkfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Hubbard's hawkfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Hubbard's hawkfish? Get the app