Genus: Cirrhitus, Hawkfishes

CIRRHITUS

HAWKFISHES

Body deep, not very compressed; head deep, blunt; a fringe of cirri on rear edge of front nostril; 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;  upper margin of preopercle finely serrated or smooth;  operculum with 2 flat spines;  dorsal fin X, 11-12, 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, 5-7; tail fin bluntly straight edged; lower 7 rays of the pectoral stout, with membranes deeply notched, distinctly longer than other rays, top 1 & lower 7 pectoral rays unbranched; pelvic I, 5, its origin behind pectoral base; scales smooth, none between eyes; > 12 irregular rows of small scales on cheek; 41-49 on lateral line.