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Wilhelm's hawkfish (Itycirrhitus wilhelmi) — Cirrhitidae

Wilhelm's hawkfish

Itycirrhitus wilhelmi
Family: Cirrhitidae

The Wilhelm's hawkfish (Itycirrhitus wilhelmi) is a saltwater fish of the family Cirrhitidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–55.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

Wilhelm's hawkfish is a hawkfish (Cirrhitidae) from reef and rocky water of the southeast Pacific around Easter Island. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a stocky, red-brown spotted body with thickened, undivided lower pectoral rays with which it perches motionless on rock and coral as if on legs. From that lookout it darts out at small crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Wilhelm's hawkfish?

The Wilhelm's hawkfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Wilhelm's hawkfish live?

The Wilhelm's hawkfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Wilhelm's hawkfish get?

The Wilhelm's hawkfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Wilhelm's hawkfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Wilhelm's hawkfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Wilhelms koraalwachter sourced
English name
Wilhelm's hawkfish sourced
Scientific name
Itycirrhitus wilhelmi
Family
Cirrhitidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
55.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Cirrhitidae

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