Species: Dactyloscopus metoecus, Alien sand-stargazer, Mexican stargazer

Dactyloscopus metoecus Dawson, 1975

Mexican stargazer, Alien sand-stargazer

Body compressed, tapering to tail; head large, flattened above, rounded and narrow at front; eyes protrusible, on long stalks, without papillae; tubular nostrils, rear nostril opens behind front nostril; both lips with skin flaps (usually unbranched), 14 (12-16) above, 20 (18-23) below; edge of operculum with 13 (10-16) skin flaps; dorsal fin origin on nape, before level of upper corner of operculum, front IV (III-V) spines separate from fin and without membranes, XII-XIII, 25 (24-26); anal II, 30 (29-31); pectoral usually 13 rays; notch under end of tail base; tail fin rays unbranched; lateral line scales 44 (42-45); lateral line continuous, bends down under last dorsal spine; scales smooth, head and belly scaleless; 1 row of scales above front arch of lateral line.