| Dactyloscopidae (Sand stargazers) |
| 7.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; marine; depth range 21 - 73 m |
| Western Atlantic: South Carolina and northeastern Gulf of Mexico to Florida Keys in USA, and also Aruba. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 11-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-29; Anal spines: 2-2. Common amongst Dactyloscopidae: Small, elongate fishes. Head usually broad and deep, body tapering and compressed behind. Eyes on top of head, often protrusible; mouth moderate to large, oblique to vertical; jaw teeth minute, in 2 or more series; no teeth on roof of mouth (vomer and palatines). Opercular opening large, gill membrane free from isthmus; opercles membranous, large, usually overlapping on underside of head, typically fringed above with 2 to 24 fleshy fimbriae. Dorsal fin continuous, with an isolated or semi-isolated anterior finlet, or with 1 to 5 separate anterior rays; dorsal-fin spines 7 to 23; anal-fin spines 2; dorsal and anal fins free or united to caudal fin by fragile membranes; pectoral fins broad-based, usually enlarged in mature males; caudal-fin rays simple or branched; pelvic fins under throat (insertion anterior to pectoral-fin base), with 1 spine and 3 thickened segmented rays; all other rays simple. Head and venter naked, body elsewhere with large cycloid scales (smooth to touch); lateral line high anteriorly, deflecting ventrally behind pectoral fin to continue along middle of side to caudal-fin base where terminal lateral-line scale bears ventrally directed canal. Body coloration, variably pale to strongly pigmented with white, brown, or reddish; some forms with characteristic saddle-like bars crossing back; others plain, mottled, or with indications of lateral stripes. Species distinguished by: dorsal-fin origin on nape; fin with an isolated or semi-isolated anterior finlet. Segmented caudal-fin rays usually 10; arched lateral-line scales 22 to 33. First preopercular canal not branched, with a single distal pore. Upper lip without fimbriae (Ref.52855). |
| Burrows in soft sandy bottom, where it waits for prey, with only the eyes, nose and mouth protruding. |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Known from the offings of South Carolina to the Tortugas in southeastern Florida, and from the offings of Fort Myers to Pensacola, Florida, in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27742). Also Ref. 26938.
Museum: USNM 134249 (4.67 cm SL, transformed male), holotype, West Florida, off Pensacola. |
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