Species: Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Coral hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1855)

Coral hawkfish

Body oval, moderately compressed; snout pointed, with ~ straight profile;  rear edge of front nostril with a fringe of cirri; bone under front of eye with partly free rear margin; mouth moderately large; a row of small canines on jaws with a band of simple teeth inside those; teeth on center and sides of roof of mouth; preopercle margin coarsely serrated; operculum with 2 flat spines; dorsal fin X, 12, continuous, slightly notched between spines and rays,  membranes between spines deeply indented, each spine with a large bunch of cirri at the tip; anal fin III, 6; tail fin bluntly straight edged; lower 5-7 rays of the pectoral stout, with membranes deeply notched, distinctly longer than other rays, top 1-2 & lower 6-7 pectoral rays unbranched; pelvic I, 5, its origin behind pectoral base; scales smooth, none between eyes, 3-4 rows of large scales on cheek; 41-45 on lateral line.