| Uranoscopidae (Stargazers) |
| 56 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 10 - 500 m |
| Pacific Ocean: endemic to New Zealand. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 30-31. Head and body broad, head width 1.2-1.7 times its length, covered with tiny blunt knobs in juveniles to almost smooth in adults; mouth with several prominent canines between smaller canines; chin smooth; ventral margin of preopercle with four spine-like processes; anterior end of isthmus with a pair of prominent forward directed spines; prominent cleithral spine sheathed with skin above pectoral fin base; 17-19 gill rakers on first arch in the form of patches of fine teeth, patches broad, about six to ten teeth across patches, not in distinct rows, innermost teeth rather short; dorsal fin of moderate length, its base 43-66% of predorsal length; pelvic fins large, their length 23-28% SL; body whitish below usually with two broad, vertical, dark-brown, variously distinct bands or saddles across back, most distinct in juveniles and small adults (Ref. 86516). |
| Found on sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 86516). |
|
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Type locality, North Island, 11 Miles off Ninety Mile Beach, Northland, NMNZ P. 42147 (holotype of Kathetostoma binigrasella, 33.4 cm TL) (Ref. 86516). Widely distributed and relatively common in coastal and offshore waters, from the Wanganella Bank (southern Norfolk Ridge) to the Snares shelf, including the Chatham Rise (Ref. 86516). |
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