Cristacirrhitus punctatus (Cuvier, 1829)
Blackspotted hawkfish
Cristacirrhitus punctatus
photo by King, D.R.

Family:  Cirrhitidae (Hawkfishes)
Max. size:  17 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique and South Africa. Recently reported from Reunion (Ref. 53568).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-6. Body mottled with irregular brown and pale brown blotches; upper 2/3 of head with blackish dots; curved blackish line posteriorly from eye (Ref. 5469).
Biology:  A rocky shore species.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 November 2023 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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