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Hawkfish & Scorpionfish
Group 9 - Odd shaped bottom dwellers : This category of fish is made up of families and species that didn’t quite fit anywhere else due to their unique body shapes.
Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
The longnose hawkfish differs from all the other hawkfish species in its elongated snout, the length of the snout fitting roughly twice into the overall length of the head. The canine teeth in the jaws are of uniform size and are only slightly larger than the inner band of villiform teeth.
Coral Hawkfish (halcon de coral, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus)
Coral hawkfish inhabit shallow, high energy, rocky areas. This hawkfish has a white or light body with brownish red spots. Think of the white bleached coral sold in curio stores to remember the white coral hawkfish. (Size 1.5-2.5”, max. 3”)
Giant Hawkfish (chino mero, Cirrhitus rivulatus)
The giant hawkfish is the largest of all the hawkfish reaching a size of up to 1 foot. The distinctive body pattern is cause for this fish to also be known as the heiroglyphic hawkfish. (Size 10-16”, max. 21”)
Stone Scorpionfish (lapon, Scorpaena plumieri mystes)
The stone scorpionfish
is a master of camouflage, blending in to bottom surroundings of rock or algae. Venom contained in the stout dorsal spines reminds us of the scorpion’s sting. (Size 8-14”, max. 18”)
is a master of camouflage, blending in to bottom surroundings of rock or algae. Venom contained in the stout dorsal spines reminds us of the scorpion’s sting. (Size 8-14”, max. 18”)
Rainbow Scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes xyris)
Small, with variable, mottled red colouration, a dark rounded spot on lower corner of gill cover, a lateral stripe of alternating red and white dashes, and a white blotch on back at meeting point of first and second dorsal fins. Common throughout its range but cryptic and rarely seen. Inhabits cracks crevices and over hangs on steep reef slopes and walls.
Sanguine Frogfish (Antennarius sanguineus)
Also known as the Bloody Frogfish. This is one of the more exotic and most unusual fishes in the world and the most common Frogfish in the Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Sanguine Frogfish has a globose, slightly compressed body with a large oblique mouth featuring numerous small villiform teeth. They are highly variable in color, being found in various shades of yellowish brown to red with brown spotting and mottling. They have conspicuous brown spots on their belly. They have small gill openings found behind and below the pectoral fin base. Their first dorsal spine (the “illicium”) is large and free, forming a movable “fishing rod” that is approximately equal in length to the second dorsal spine.
Calico Lizardfish (Synodus lacertinus)
The Sauro lizardfish is native to the areas of eastern Pacific Ocean. This species commonly occurs on sandy bottoms or sand patches that are around rocky reefs or boulder and gravel strewn slopes. The average length of this species as an unsexed male is about 15 centimeters or about 5.9 inches. The Sauro lizardfish is recorded to live solitarily and not within a group. It also is known to be active at night while only showing eyes and mouth during the day by hiding in the sand. As prey swim by, it pounces from its spot in the sand.
Pacific Stargazer (Astroscopus zephyreus)
Greyish brown on dorsal half of head and body, with numerous small white spots; whitish on operculum and lower half of body; fins dusky to blackish, tail fin with white stripes. Size: grows to about 56 cm. Inhabits sandy bottoms. Depth: 15-385 m.
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