Family: |
Uranoscopidae (Stargazers) |
Max. size: |
45 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 100 m |
Distribution: |
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand. Eastern Central Pacific: Tonga and Tahiti. |
Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-20; Anal soft rays: 15-19. Head and anterior body depressed. Body scales minute, randomly arranged. Pectoral fins with "squarish" appearance, dorsoposterior margin straight, middle ray longest. A mental barbel present on chin. Respiratory valve inside lower jaw with a dermal appendage expanded vertically in young, without appendage in adults. Both lips with labial fimbriae. Lower portion of body without dermal folds originating from anal fin rays (Ref 42788). |
Biology: |
Ranging from estuaries to the continental shelf (Ref. 42788). Feeds on demersal fishes (Ref. 42788). Minimum depth range from Ref. 121942. |
IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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