Uranoscopus crassiceps Alcock, 1890
Uranoscopus crassiceps
photo by Marine Science and Fisheries Centre, Muscat

Family:  Uranoscopidae (Stargazers)
Max. size:  27 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 179 - 220 m
Distribution:  Northern Indian Ocean: Somalia and Yemen (Gulf of Aden), Oman (Arabian Sea) and India (Coromandel coast, Ganjam coast, Chennai coast).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal soft rays: 13-13. This medium-sized species is distinguished by the following characters: large head (head length 2.7-2.9 in SL); 4-7 spines on lower edge of preopercle; labial fimbriae well-developed; nostrils with short tubiform valve; dorsoposterior margin of pectoral-fin truncate; colour of lower half of pectoral-fin and membranes of caudal-fin yellow in fresh specimens; in adults, oblique scale rows along the sides of the body 52-54, in juveniles and subadults 41-54 (Ref. 94018).
Biology:  Found on soft bottoms of lower continental shelf and at relatively narrow depth range (Ref. 94018).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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