Red Sea Hawkfish

Cirrhitus pinnulatus, commonly known as the stocky hawkfish, whitespotted hawkfish, or marbled hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. This species is prevalent in the Indo-West Pacific region.

The species was initially described in 1801 as Labrus pinnulatus by the German naturalist and explorer Johann Reinhold Forster from Tahiti. Forster's manuscript provided the basis for Johann Gottlob Schneider's description in 1801, in collaboration with Marcus Elieser Bloch in their work, Systema Ichthyologiae. Although the Catalog of Fishes attributes the name to Forster, the genus Cirrhitus was later established by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède, with Cirrhitus maculatus, a synonym of Forster's Labrus pinnulatus, becoming the type species. The specific epithet, pinnulatus, denotes "pinnulated," likely referring to the fringe of cirri on the posterior margin of the anterior nostril. Currently, three subspecies are recognized:

• Cirrhitus pinnulatus pinnulatus Forster, 1801
• Cirrhitus pinnulatus maculatus Lacépède, 1803
• Cirrhitus pinnulatus spilotoceps Schultz, 1950

In 1950, Leonard Peter Schultz identified three species from the extensive distribution of C. pinnulatus: C. spilotoceps from the 🌊 Red Sea, C. pinnulatus from the Indo-Pacific region (excluding Hawaii), and C. maculosus from Hawaii (🇺🇸 United States) and the Johnston Atoll. John Ernest Randall, in his 1963 review of the Cirrhitidae family, proposed treating them as subspecies rather than distinct species. The Catalog of Fishes acknowledges C. spilotoceps as a valid species and considers C. maculosus a subspecies of C. pinnulatus. Conversely, FishBase regards these names as synonyms of C. pinnulatus. It is plausible that historical records of C. pinnulatus sensu lato from the East African coast and potentially other 🌊 Indian Ocean locales pertain to C. spilotoceps.

Morphologically, Cirrhitus pinnulatus has a body approximately three times as long as it is deep. The head features a short, blunt snout and a large mouth that extends to the rear edge of the eye, which is topped by a low bony ridge. The mouth comprises two types of teeth: an outer row of canines and an inner row of villiform teeth, with additional teeth on the roof of the mouth. A fringe of cirri is present on the posterior margin of the anterior nostril, and the upper preopercle margin displays fine serrations. The continuous dorsal fin contains 10 spines and 11 soft rays, with a distinct separation between spiny and soft-rayed sections and cirri tassels near each spine tip. The anal fin has 3 spines and 6 soft rays, while the caudal fin is gently rounded. The pectoral fins, which do not reach as far as the pelvic fin tips, consist of 14 rays, with the lower 7 being unbranched and robust. This species can attain a maximum length of 30 cm (12 in), though a typical size is 23 cm (9.1 in). The hawkfish's coloration is primarily brown with white blotches and irregular reddish-brown spots, whereas the head is adorned with sinuous reddish-orange lines and spots. A distinctive dark, saddle-like blotch is present on the upper part of the caudal peduncle.

Cirrhitus pinnulatus exhibits a wide distribution across the Indo-West Pacific region, ranging from the 🌊 Red Sea and the East African coast to as far south as Port Alfred in 🇿🇦 South Africa. Its range extends across the 🌊 Indian Ocean and into the Pacific, reaching as far east as Hawaii (🇺🇸 United States) and south to 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France) and 🇦🇺 Australia, and north to the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan) of southern 🇯🇵 Japan. In 🇦🇺 Australia, it is found at Ningaloo Reef and Scott Reef in Western Australia, Cartier Reef in the Timor Sea, and from Lizard Island to Escape Reef on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, as well as at Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. It inhabits depths between 1 and 23 meters (3 to 75 ft), though it is typically encountered at depths of less than 15 meters (49 ft). This species frequents exposed areas, such as the surge zone on the seaward sides of reefs and along rocky coastlines.

Cirrhitus pinnulatus is a nocturnal predator, primarily preying on crabs, in addition to other crustaceans, small fishes, sea urchins, and brittle stars. The species employs a pelagic spawning strategy, with the pair ascending into the water column to release their gametes. Preliminary studies suggest they may be protogynous hermaphrodites, though further research is necessary to confirm this.

Cirrhitus pinnulatus is harvested for subsistence fisheries, typically captured from shore using hook and line, and the catch is sold fresh.