Stargazer

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For other meanings of stargazer, see Stargazer (disambiguation).
Stargazer
Uranoscopus sulphureus
Uranoscopus sulphureus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Uranoscopidae
Genera

Astroscopus
Genyagnus
Gnathagnus
Ichthyscopus
Kathetostoma
Pleuroscopus
Selenoscopus
Uranoscopus
Xenocephalus
See text for species.

The stargazers are a family Uranoscopidae of perciform fish that have eyes on top of their heads (thus the name). The family includes about 50 species in 8 genera, all marine and found worldwide in shallow waters.

In addition to the top-mounted eyes, stargazers also have a large upward-facing mouth in a large head. Their usual habit is to bury themselves in sand, and leap upwards to ambush prey (benthic fish and invertebrates) that pass overhead. Some species have a worm-shaped lure growing out of the floor of the mouth, which they can wiggle to attract prey's attention. Both the dorsal and anal fins are relatively long; some lack dorsal spines. Lengths range from 18 cm up to 90 cm, for the giant stargazer Kathetostoma giganteum.

Stargazers are venomous; they have two large poison spines situated behind the opercle and above the pectoral fins. They can also cause electric shocks.

Contents

[edit] Genera and species

  • Genus Astroscopus
    • Southern Stargazer, Astroscopus y-graecum (Cuvier, 1829)
  • Genus Genyagnus
  • Genus Gnathagnus
    • Armoured blenny, Gnathagnus armatus (Kaup, 1858)
    • Gnathagnus cribratus Kishimoto, 1989
    • Freckled stargazer, Gnathagnus egregius (Jordan & Thompson, 1905)
    • Bulldog stargazer, Gnathagnus innotabilis Waite, 1904
  • Genus Ichthyscopus
  • Genus Kathetostoma
    • Lancer stargazer, Kathetostoma albigutta (Bean, 1892)
    • Smooth stargazer, Kathetostoma averruncus Jordan & Bollman, 1890
    • Kathetostoma canaster Gomon & Last, 1987
    • Spiny stargazer, Kathetostoma cubana Barbour, 1941
    • Kathetostoma fluviatilis Hutton, 1872
    • Giant stargazer, Kathetostoma giganteum Haast, 1873
    • Common stargazer, Kathetostoma laeve (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
    • Deepwater stargazer, Kathetostoma nigrofasciatum Waite & McCulloch, 1915
  • Genus Pleuroscopus
  • Genus Selenoscopus
  • Genus Uranoscopus
  • Genus 'Xenocephalus

[edit] Trivia

Stargazer is also the name for a mutant mouse line that contains a mutation of a gene encoding the protein, stargazin, a transmembrane protein that acts as an accessory subunit of mammalian glutamate receptors. Stargazer animals are ataxic, owing to deficits in cerebellar function, and manifest epileptic seizures.

[edit] References

[edit] External links


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