Species: Dactyloscopus crossotus, Bigeye Stargazer

Dactyloscopus crossotus Starks, 1913

Bigeye Stargazer

Body compressed, tapering to tail; head large, flattened above, rounded and narrow at front; rear nostril a patch of 1-8 pores between tubular front nostril & eye; eyes on top of head, large, protrusible, without real stalks; mouth upturned, with a protruding lower jaw, top jaw not reaching past eye, tip of lower jaw pointed when viewed from above; both lips with skin flaps; 1st preopercular canal branched, with multiple pores on branches; operculum with 12-15 skin flaps; dorsal fin origin on nape, before level of upper corner of operculum, XII (XI-XIV) spines, 1st 2-5 spines separate and free, 29 (27-31) rays; anal rays II, 33 (31-36); pelvic fins inserted under throat, each with I, 3, rays thickened and free at the tips; a slight notch under lower edge of tail fin base; lateral line continuous, bends down under last dorsal spine; scales large, smooth, head and belly scaleless; 47 (45-49) pored scales; 2 rows of scales between lateral line and 1st two dorsal spines, 1 row under rest of spines.

Tan with pale brown mottling above.

Reaches 7.5 cm.

Lives in sand bottoms, often in surge zones.

Depth range: 0-8 m, usually < 2 m.

Florida to Brazil.