Genus: Dactyloscopus, Sand Stargazer, Sand Stargazers

DACTYLOSCOPUS

SAND STARGAZERS

Body compressed, tapering to tail; head large, flattened above, rounded and narrow at front; eyes protrusible, on stalks, on top of head; tubular nostrils; mouth upturned, with a protruding lower jaw; both lips with skin flaps; upper part of operculum with a frill of skin flaps; dorsal and anal fins with long bases; dorsal fin origin on nape, before level of upper corner of operculum, continuous or with front I-IV spines separate from fin and without membranes; pelvic fins inserted under throat, each with I, 3, rays thickened and free at the tips; lateral line continuous, bends down under last dorsal spine; scales large, smooth, head and belly scaleless.

A neotropical genus with 16 species; in our region there are seven species, 5 endemics and 2 W Atlantic.