Dwarf Hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys falco

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cirrhitidae
Genus: Cirrhitichthys
Species: Cirrhitichthys falco

The dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco) is a small, white hawkfish with red-brown saddles and tufted cirri on its dorsal spines. Two dark bars below the eye help distinguish it from similar species.

It reaches only about 7 cm. It perches on coral heads, rocks and sponges, propped up on its pectoral fins, and darts out to catch small crustaceans and fish. Males are territorial and keep a small group of females.

The dwarf hawkfish is common across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found on coral reefs and rocky slopes at a wide range of depths.