The first time I saw a hawkfish was while diving in Lakshadweep. It was one of my early work dives, and I was taking in the sights of a new ecosystem that was quite different from what I’d seen before in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Until then, I’d been very predictably mesmerised by the bright, colourful fish I’d seen most commonly on my dives — like cheery butterflyfish and impressive, vibrant wrasses and parrotfish.
I’m usually easily distracted by any fish I see, but this hawkfish was slightly different. It was towards the end of my dive when a very freckled fish hopped into my field of vision, finned up to a staghorn coral in front of me, executed a swift U-turn, and with a little shake and wiggle, wedged itself snugly between the coral branches. That movement intrigued me because I hadn’t seen any other fish do that. I clicked a hasty photograph to identify the species later, and found that the individual had been a blackside/ freckled hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri).
The thickened spines of their pectoral fins enable hawkfishes to perch on hard substrates (coral or rock) comfortably. Photo: Vardhan Patankar
Cover Photo: Marine hawkfishes, like this coral hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus), are a family of brightly coloured ambush predators that hunt underwater like hawks do above water. Cover Photo: Vardhan Patankar
Hawkfishes are ambush reef predators. Like their avian namesakes, they usually perch at an elevation on a coral or rock (sometimes on the ground), observing their prey before diving down to catch it. These mesopredators primarily feed on smaller crustaceans like crabs, shrimps, and occasionally small fish, helping maintain a delicate yet important balance in an ecosystem deeply affected by climate change.
I kept an eye out for them for the entire season I dived at my study site. I had a few questions on my mind, ranging from “Why does it shuffle like that?” to “What are those things near the nostrils and on the dorsal fin?”. Curiosity drove me, and fortunately, I had resources to read.
I soon discovered that the “things near the nostrils and on the dorsal fin” were cirri — hair-like tufts. They extend from the top of the dorsal spines and just behind the nostrils (or nares). This is more evident in some species than others and contributes to the defining characteristics of the family they’re classified under — Cirrhitidae.
Fish are often named after their physical characteristics. (Left) The arc-eye or ring-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) is one of the more common hawkfishes seen on shallow reefs, and is named after the bright ring around each eye. (Right) The blackside or freckled hawkfish’s (Paracirrhites forsteri) two most prominent physical features are a black stripe or patch on its sides, and freckles. Photos: Phalguni Ranjan (left), Vardhan Patankar (right)
Hawkfishes have a few adaptations that aren’t entirely unique to this species but result in intriguing behaviour. They lack an air bladder, which makes swimming an energy-expensive activity. They mostly dart swiftly between vantage points on rocks or corals within their territories, staying anchored to one perch for longer than they swim. The first few spines of their pectoral fins are long and thickened, and the membrane of the fin is deeply notched between the spines. This allows them to perch on or wedge comfortably between corals or coral branches to ensure that currents don’t buffet them around. This adaptation also allows them to shuffle across a substrate for very short distances — one of the things that drew my attention to them originally.
Like several other reef fish, including some clownfish, parrotfish, groupers, wrasses, and gobies, hawkfishes exhibit sequential hermaphroditism, which means they start life as one sex and then change to another. Most hawkfishes are protogynous hermaphrodites, i.e. they start their lives as females and change into males. Males hold and guard territories that include the smaller territories of one to three female hawkfishes, and they move between perches within that territory. Courtship starts around dusk and the process involves a series of behaviours and displays that finally result in spawning.
(Left) One of the defining characteristics of the hawkfish family, like this coral hawkfish, is the hair-like tufts of cirri atop the dorsal fin spines. (Right) Hawkfishes such as the blackside or freckled hawkfish perch effortlessly on hard coral, patiently observing their prey until it’s time to swoop down and scoop it up. Photos: Vardhan Patankar
They might be slightly difficult to spot sometimes, but hawkfishes are far from inconspicuous. They are brightly coloured in shades of reds, browns, and yellows, with individuals of the same species exhibiting markings and hues that sometimes differ slightly from one individual to another.
For a long time after my first sighting, I’d bookmarked the hawkfishes page in my reef fish identification guide. Of the several species said to be commonly visible in Indian waters, over the years, I’ve only seen the blackside hawkfish, the arc-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus), the coral hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus), and most recently, the dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco).
Seeing these fascinating creatures close up has been an enriching experience. There is so much about these fish that I haven’t observed yet, but I hope to do so in the future. While the many wonders under the sea have me looking forward to my next experience, seeing a hawkfish is always a little extra special.
