| Family: |
Uranoscopidae (Stargazers) |
| Max. size: |
16.85 cm SL (male/unsexed); 21.6 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 27 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean: northern Red Sea. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 4-4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal soft rays: 13-13; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IV + 13; pectoral rays 18; oblique scale rows on midside of body 37-41; body above lateral line anterior to second dorsal fin no scales; body depth of adult at anal-fin origin 3.6-4.05 in SL; the head broad and flat dorsally, the width 2.5-2.8 in SL; rugose bones dorsally on head; occipital lobes are not developed as knobs; large cleithral spine, slightly angled dorsally; 3.85-4.7 in head length; supracleithrum does not form a distinct spine posteriorly; small spines 5-7 ventrally on preopercle; blunt preorbital spines 3-5; small eyes its orbit diameter 6.45-7.1 in head length; lingual lure broadly triangular and flat at the base, with long cirri on each side, narrowing to a slender ribbon-like filament with short cirri on edges, its length is half the distance separating cleithral spines; dorsal fins are narrowly separated; margin of second dorsal fin straight; caudal fin slightly rounded. Colouration: in life it is light gray-brown, grading to white ventrally, the dorsal half of body with irregular longitudinal rows of dark brown spots of about eye size, many rosette-like, and scattered dark brown dots, especially posteriorly; head with dark dots dorsally; the first dorsal fin largely black while the second dorsal and anal fins have translucent membranes, the dorsal rays and posterior anal rays dotted with dark brown, the margin white; caudal fin dark gray with black dots on rays, the posterior margin white (Ref. 93135). |
| Biology: |
Collected using rotenone in cove, edge of precipitous reef with numerous caves, rock and coral ledge, over sand and patches of segrasses (Ref. 93135). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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