Species: Stellifer zestocarus, Bigeye stardrum, Softhead stardrum

Stellifer zestocarus Gilbert in Jordan & Evermann, 1898

Softhead stardrum, Bigeye stardrum

Body oblong, deep, compressed; head compressed; skull strongly cavernous, translucent, spongy to touch; eye very large, 3.3-3.4 in head length; snout very short, blunt, not projecting beyond upper jaw; mouth large, opens at front, oblique; teeth in villiform bands, those in outer row of upper jaw enlarged; chin with 4 pores, central pair separated by a crest, no barbells; snout with 8 pores; margin of preopercle weakly serrated, 1 strong spine at angle; gill rakers long and slender, 29-30; dorsal rays IX-X + II-III, 17-20, deep notch between spiny and soft parts of dorsal fin; anal fin with short base II, 10 (rarely 9 or 11), 2nd  spine strong, > 2/3 length of 1st  ray; pectorals long, reach past level of anus; pelvic fins without a filament; tail margin with a long point; scales rough on body, smooth on head, breast, and fins; soft dorsal and anal fins covered with smooth scales; lateral line pores 48-50.