see text Cirrhitidae, the hawkfishes, are a family of marine ray-finned fishes found in tropical seas and which are associated with coral reefs.

[2] The name of the family is taken from that of the genus Cirrhitus which is derived from cirrhus meaning a "lock of hair" or "a barbel", thought to be a reference to lower, unbranched rays of the pectoral fins which Bernard Germain de Lacépède termed as "barbillons", which means "barbels" in his description of the type species of the genus C. maculatus, and which he thought to be "false" pectoral fins.

The dorsal fin is continuous, having 10 spines and 11–17 soft rays; it has an incision separating the spiny and soft-rayed parts.

[3] They are benthic fishes which are found on coral reefs or rocky substrates, mostly inhabiting shallow water.

[6] Cirrhitidae fishes use their robust lower pectoral-fin rays to wedge into position where they will be subjected to the forces of currents and waves.

One species, Cyprinocirrhitus polyactis, mainly feeds on zooplankton, although it is frequently encountered resting on the substrate.