Longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Centrarchiformes · Family: Cirrhitidae · Genus: Oxycirrhites.

Accepted name: Oxycirrhites typus · Authority: Bleeker, 1857 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218865.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Oxycirrhitus typus Bleeker, 1857.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218865 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Oxycirrhites typus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 13 cm · Depth range: 10–100 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabits steep outer reef slopes exposed to strong currents where it lives in large gorgonians and black corals (Ref. 3921). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Common below 25 m (Ref. 90102). Feeds on small benthic or planktonic crustaceans. The suggestion that this species lays demersal eggs (Ref. 3921) is questionable. Pelagic spawning has been observed for this species from field observations (Ref. 26305). Monogamous (Ref. 52884), strongly territorial (Ref. 26305). Uncommon to rare in most areas (Ref. 9710).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5833) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Oxycirrhites-typus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

810 georeferenced occurrence records for Oxycirrhites typus are published through GBIF from 40 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 199 distinct locations from a sample of 810 records, omitting 35 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Ecuador (166); Indonesia (100); Mexico (66); Philippines (65); Fiji (44); Egypt (36); Solomon Islands (36); Colombia (33); United States of America (31); Maldives (28); Papua New Guinea (26); Australia (25); Malaysia (25); South Africa (18); Costa Rica (16).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Madagascar; Red Sea; Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Chagos.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2375203) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2375203&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218865 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Oxycirrhites typus Bleeker, 1857 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 67997854) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67997854/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2375203) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2375203/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The longnose hawkfish was first formally described in 1857 by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker with the type locality given as Ambon Island in Indonesia. Bleeker placed it in the monotypic genus Oxycirrhites. The genus name is a compound of oxy meaning "sharp" or "pointed" and Cirrhites, an alternative spelling of the type genus of the family Cirrhitidae, Cirrhitus. The specific name typus denotes that it is the type species of its genus.

The longnose hawkfish differs from all the other hawkfish species in its elongated snout, the length of the snout fitting roughly twice into the overall length of the head. The canine teeth in the jaws are of uniform size and are only slightly larger than the inner band of villiform teeth. The dorsal fin contains 10 spines and 13 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7 soft rays. This fish reaches a maximum total length of 13 cm. There is a tuft of cirri at the tip of each dorsal fin spine. The overall colour of the body is whitish overlain with a grid of red horizaontal and vertical lines.

The longnose hawkfish has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. In the Indian Ocean it is found from the Red Sea, along the coast of east Africa south to northern Mozambique and Madagascar across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific where it reaches as far east as the Hawaiian Islands and the Society Islands in French Polynesia north to Japan and south to Australia. In Australia it occurs from south west of Barrow Island and at the Scott Reef in Western Australia, the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea and from Lizard Island south to Escape Reef in Queensland, as well as occurring at Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. In the eastern Pacific Ocean it is found from the southern tip of Baja California and the central Gulf of California south to Colombia, and at the Revillagigedos, Galapagos, Cocos and Malpelo. It occurs at depths between 10 and 100 m. It is found on steep outer reef slopes which are exposed to strong currents, living among large gorgonians and black corals.

The longnose hawkfish preys on small benthic or planktonic crustaceans. It is uncommon to rare in most of its range and it is a territorial species. They are pelagic spawners which form distinct monogamous pairs to breed.

The longnose hawkfish is common in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Longnose hawkfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longnose_hawkfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

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