Spotted stargazer

Taxobox
name = Spotted stargazer


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Uranoscopidae
genus = "Genyagnus"
species = "G. monopterygius"
binomial = "Genyagnus monopterygius"
binomial_authority = (Schneider, 1801)

The spotted stargazer, "Genyagnus monopterygius", is a stargazer of the family Uranoscopidae, found on the continental shelf around New Zealand and other southern Pacific islands, at depths down to 100 m. Its length is up to 45 cm.

The spotted stargazer is a solid-bodied fish with a huge blunt head protected by bony armour. The eyes and large trap-door mouth both face upward, and there is a small chin barbel. The skin is scaleless but is thick and tough.

Coloration is mottled green-brown to grey above, and white below, with large oval pale spots on the operculum, body, and pectoral fins.

These fish bury themselves in the bottom sediments to conceal themselves from their prey of crabs, molluscs, and worms, and small fishes. When a prey item comes within range it lunges forward by thrusting downward with the wide spread pectoral fins and engulfs the animal with its cavernous mouth.

References

*
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8