flanks and back and speckling on the face. Distribution and habitat The redbarred hawkfish is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, records from Madagascar and the Mascerene Islands refer to Cirrhitops mascarenensis and the record from Japan is a misidentification. This species is found at depths between on a range of reef habitats and habitats associated with reefs. Biology The redbarred hawkfish is benthic. Like other hawkfishes it perches on corals and sponges to watch for prey which may be small fishes, and crustaceans, as well as a small amount of sipunculids and zooplankton such as larval shrimps, copepods, amphipods and larval gastropods. Aquarium trade The redbarred hawkfish is occasionally found in the aquarium trade. References Fish described in 1828 Redbarred hawkfish Taxa named by Edward Turner Bennett