Species: Sanopus astrifer, Starry Toadfish, Whitespotted Toadfish

Sanopus astrifer (Robins & Starck, 1965)

Starry Toadfish, Whitespotted Toadfish

Relatively long bodied; head depressed, with many branched barbells and skin flaps, especially along lower jaw; only central 1 or 2 pairs of barbells on chin are branched; no cirri between eyes; front nostrils tubular; operculum with 2 solid spines at top corner and one at bottom corner; no canine teeth; gill openings restricted to side, before pectoral fin base; a large pore leading to a group of glands just behind base of pectoral fin, no glands on pectoral fin itself; dorsal fin III, 31-34; 24-28 anal fin rays; 2 lateral lines, 30-41 papillae on upper lateral line, 27-36 on lower line, no light organs; no scales.

Dark grey-black; head and and body with many small white spots.

Reaches 27.8 cm.

Lives in caves under corals.

Depth range: 5-30 m.

Caribbean Mexico to Belize.