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Longnose Hawkfish

Pacific Fish ID

Oxycirrhites typus

Longnose Hawkfish | Ankla Azul

Adult

Family: Hawkfishes (Cirrhitidae)
Size: Up to 13 cm (5 in)
Depth: 10 – 100m (30 – 330ft)
Distribution: Tropical Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific (Baja to Colombia).

Identification:
A distinct and photogenic fish with a pattern that looks like plaid or tartan cloth.

  • Coloration: The body is translucent white, overlaid with a striking grid of horizontal and vertical bright red lines. This "checkerboard" pattern provides excellent camouflage against the branches of gorgonians and black corals.
  • Shape: True to its name, it has an extremely elongated snout (rostrum) which it uses to pick tiny crustaceans out of small crevices.

Behavior:
A specialized dweller of the deep reef.

  • Habitat Specificity: Unlike other hawkfish that perch on rocks, the Longnose is almost exclusively found living inside large sea fans (Gorgonians) or Black Coral bushes. They are often found deeper than 20m where these corals thrive.
  • Social Structure: They are often territorial and monogamous. You will frequently find them in pairs (male and female) inhabiting the same sea fan.

You just learned about this fish...

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Behind the Lens

Jalvan

Underwater Photographer & Instructor

Documenting unique marine biodiversity from the Red Sea across the Pacific Ocean. Dedicated to creating a visual catalog of Bahia Solano's marine life for conservation and research.

Photography: Sony A7C II | Olympus EPL10
Video: Osmo Action 5 Pro | GoPro

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REFERENCES & DATA SOURCES

  • Scientific ID: Verified via FishBase.
  • Field Guide: Reef Fish Identification: Baja to Panama (Humann & DeLoach).
  • Regional Data: Ankla Azul Marine Observation Log (Bahia Solano).

More Than Kicking Your Fins

At Ankla Azul, diving is more than kicking your fins. It's patient teaching, sharp safety, and real care for the place we call home. As an SSI Instructor Training Center and an SSI Blue Oceans Center (2025 award), we blend skill-building with ocean awareness—Fish ID, coral nursery work, community education, and rescue support—so every dive grows confidence and respect for Bahía Solano's wild Pacific.