Giant Hawkfish in Galápagos: Facts and Where to See It

The giant hawkfish is solitary and lives on the bottom. It lies still on rock ledges, perched on its pectoral fins, and its body pattern camouflages it against the rocks. From there it ambushes small fish and crustaceans, and it has even been recorded eating small marine iguanas.

• Pattern. Greyish brown with five vertical bars, each made of golden-brown markings with a black edge and a thin bright blue rim.
• The name. Rivulatus means "marked by irregular streaks", after these markings. They also gave it the name hieroglyphic hawkfish.
• Young fish. Juveniles live in the surge zone and in tide pools.

The giant hawkfish is found only in the eastern Pacific, from southern Baja California and the northern Gulf of California to Ecuador, including all the offshore islands in that region, Galápagos among them. It lives on reefs in shallow water down to 30 metres, which puts it well within reach of snorkellers.

Guide sighting records list one site: Devil's Crown, a snorkelling site off Floreana, rated Rare. Look closely at rocks and ledges for a still, patterned fish resting on its fins.

The guide records list the giant hawkfish at Devil's Crown in every month. In the next twelve months, 42 departures stop at the site.

No, it is listed as Least Concern. In the Galápagos Marine Reserve, park rules ask visitors to keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) from wildlife and never to feed it.

1. Looking for movement. The hawkfish sits still; look for the pattern instead.
2. Touching the rocks. Keep your hands off the reef and its animals.
3. Counting on a sighting. The one site in the guide records is rated Rare.