| Family: |
Uranoscopidae (Stargazers) |
| Max. size: |
44 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 100 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan, Mexico; northern coast of South America (Ref. 5217). Absent in the West Indies. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 13-13 |
| Biology: |
Inhabits silty, sandy, or rubble bottoms (Ref. 9710). Feeds on fishes (Ref. 13628). Possesses electric organs located in a specialized pouch behind the eyes. Can discharge up to 50 volts (Ref. 10576).The electric organ discharge (EOD) rate depends on the temperature: about 500 Hz at 35°C and 50 Hz at 15°C (corresponding to the annual temperature range of the habitat of this species) (Ref. 10011). Cleithral spine with venom gland (Ref. 57406). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
| Country info: |
|
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
