Species: Gillellus uranidea, Warteye Stargazer

Gillellus uranidea Böhlke, 1968

Warteye Stargazer

Body compressed, tapering to tail; head moderate sized; eyes on top of head, not on stalks, ringed with a circle of flaps on tip; tubular nostrils; mouth upturned, with a protruding lower jaw, 4 (2-4) skin flaps on lower lip, none on top lip; upper part of operculum with a frill of skin flaps; dorsal fin in 2 sections, 1st section a finlet of III spines with origin on nape, sometimes 1-2 free spines behind this, then main fin, XIII-XV spines, 14-17 soft rays; 21-24 soft anal rays; pelvic fins inserted under throat, each with I, 3, rays thickened and free at the tips; scales large, smooth; 22-27 scales on arched section of lateral line, 11-15 on straight part, total scales 36-41; underbelly behind pelvic fins scaleless; lateral line bends down just behind spiny section of dorsal fin.

Variably plain, with traces of brown on side and back; or with 4-5 broad dark saddles across back, from nape to tail fin base; front of head often with dark spots or blotches.

Reaches 4.5 cm.

Lives buried in sand around reefs.

Depth range: 1-12 m.

The Bahamas to the S Caribbean.