Stocky hawkfish
Cirrhitus pinnulatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Stocky hawkfish
- Scientific
- Cirrhitus pinnulatus
- Dhivehi
- ފަލަ ގާބޯFala gaaboa
- Group
- Reef fish
- Family
- Cirrhitidae (hawkfishes)
- Maximum size
- Up to about 30 cm (total length); commonly 23 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 28 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 23 m (usually 1 to 3 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A stout, olive-brown hawkfish shading to white below, scattered with large white and dark brown spots and small reddish spots on the head. It lives on surge-swept reef fronts and rocky shores, usually shallower than 3 m. Like other hawkfish it sits motionless on a coral or rock perch and pounces on crabs and other prey.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name fala gaaboa (MRS 1997).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Cirrhitus-pinnulatus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ފަލަ_ގާބޯ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Stocky_hawkfish_Sri_Lanka.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Fala gaaboa' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ފަލަ ގާބޯ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Boffana' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.