Species: Dactyloscopus tridigitatus, Sand Stargazer

Dactyloscopus tridigitatus Gill, 1859

Sand Stargazer

Body compressed, tapering to tail; head large, flattened above, rounded and narrow at front; rear nostril a single pore next to base of tubular front nostril; eyes on top of head, small, with long slender stalks, stalks >eye diameter; mouth upturned, with a protruding lower jaw, top jaw reaching past eye, tip of lower jaw pointed when viewed from above; both lips with skin flaps, usually 13-17 on top lip; operculum with 10-16 skin flaps; canal pores on preoperculum 4-11; dorsal fin origin on nape, before level of upper corner of operculum, fin usually discontinuous, XI-XII (X-XIII), 1st 3-4 spines separate and free, 28 (26-31) rays; segmented anal rays II, 32 (30-34); pelvic fins inserted under throat, each with I, 3, rays thickened and free at the tips; a distinct notch under lower edge of tail fin base; lateral line continuous, bends down under last dorsal spine; scales large, smooth, head and belly scaleless; 45-46 (43-47) pored scales; 2-3 rows of scales between lateral line and 1st two dorsal spines, 1.5-2 rows under rest of spines.

Tan to pale, body blotched and mottled with tan and white marks; salmon streaks behind eye, salmon on top of head and chin, and along midline of body; body sometimes with 11-14 brown bars between nape and tail base; pectoral white; tail may have several faint brown bars.

Reaches 8.5 cm.

Lives in sand bottoms, often in surge zone.

Depth range: 0-29 m, usually < 2.5 m.

Bermuda to Brazil.