Proceedings of the United States National Museum SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION • WASHINGTON, D.C. Volume 114 1963 Number 3472 REVIEW OF THE HAWKFISHES (FAMILY CIRRHITIDAE) By John E. Randall ^ The Cirrhitidae is a famil}'^ of 10 genera and 34 species of carniv-orous fishes, usually small and often colorful, which inhabit warm seas. One of the genera and six of the species are herein described as new. The family is characterized as follows: pectoral fins with 14 rays, the lower 5 to 7 rays unbranched and usually enlarged with membranes deeply incised; 1 dorsal fin, notched between spinous and soft portions, with 10 spines and 11 to 17 rays (the spinous portion, however, of greater basal length than the soft); anal fin with 3 spines and 5 to 7 (usually 6) rays; 15 principal caudal rays; 6 branchiostegal rays; pelvic rays 1,5; 1 or more cirri projecting pos-teriorly from interspinous membranes near tips of dorsal spines; a fringe of cirri on hind edge of anterior nostril; gill membranes broadly joined with a free fold across isthmus; no air bladder; 26 vertebrae. ' Contribution Ko. 409 from The Marino Laboratory, University of Miami. Author now Professor of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagiiez, Puerto Rico. 389