The Amusing Falco Hawkfish!

The falco hawkfish, or dwarf hawkfish is called Cirrhitichthys falco by biologists. It is a member of the Family Cirrhitidae. The falco hawkfish is one of 10 species in the family found in the CNMI. Hawkfishes get their English common name from their hawk-like behavior: they usually occupy a “perch” from which they actively search the surrounding area for the small fishes and crustaceans (shrimps and crabs) that they prey upon. When they see potential prey, they quickly dart or “swoop” down and catch it in their sharp teeth.

They are common in areas with rich coral reefs and clear waters, and are most often seen lying at the base of a coral. They generally inhabit the same areas that divers explore (15–130 ft, 4–46 m). This falco hawkfish was photographed at Maug, but could have been photographed at any island in the CNMI.

Falco hawkfish are found in tropical waters throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region: from Samoa in the east, to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands in the north, to the southern the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia in the south and to the Maldives in the west. The CNMI is in the north-central part of their range.

The falco hawkfish only reaches about 3 inches in total length (7 cm). But they are easily identified by the white to yellow tufts on the tips of the dorsal spines, combined with black to rusty spots that form wedge-shaped, rusty-colored saddles anteriorly over the body, spotted tail, and the pair of reddish bars below the eye. The belly and sides are usually pearly white to cream in color.

Falco hawkfish are territorial and adults are often seen in pairs during the day, but some studies suggest that males may actually have harems of females. Hawkfish begin their adult lives as females, but later in their lives may become males. There are usually far more females than males, and only the largest individuals will transform into males. During the day, the hawkfish seem to ignore one another, but at twilight or in the evening the male may begin to court females from his harem. The eggs and sperm are released into the open water near the surface and neither parent guards the fertilized eggs.

Falco hawkfish can be entertaining aquarium pets. They will take a number of foods and quickly become tame to the presence of their human captors. They may even take food from a hobbyist’s fingers. If you intend to catch fishes for display in aquaria, you must apply for and receive an aquarium-collecting license from the CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) before you try to catch any fishes.

This “Fact Sheet” was produced by the CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife and is available free of charge.