Species: Dactyloscopus minutus, Small sand-stargazer, Tiny stargazer
eyes in dark mask, white T behind
lip flaps; ~8 above, ~12 below
LL 37-38
Dactyloscopus minutus Dawson, 1975
Tiny stargazer, Small 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 (unbranched), 8 (6-12) above, 12 (10-14) below; edge of operculum with 7 (6-9) skin flaps; dorsal fin origin on nape, before level of upper corner of operculum, front III (II--IV) spines separate from fin and without membranes, XI (X-XII), 22 (21-24); anal II, 26 25-27); pectoral usually 13 rays; notch under end of tail base; tail fin rays unbranched; lateral line scales 37 (36-38); lateral line continuous, bends down under last dorsal spine; scales smooth, head and belly scaleless; no scales above front part of lateral line.
Inside mouth unpigmented; eyes in dark mask, with broad T-shaped or triangular white blotch behind; 5-6 (4-7) dark saddles along upper back; side with 2 dark stripes; dorsal and anal pale; tail pale, with dark blotch at base.
Size: 3 cm.
Habitat: tide pools and coastal sandy areas.
Depth: 1-15 m.
Tres Marias Islands (Mexico) to Panama.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine Only
- Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore Only
- Inshore
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom only
- Bottom
- Habitat
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- Sand & gravel
- Soft bottom only
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- FishBase Habitat
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- Demersal
- Feeding Group
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- No Data
- Carnivore
- Diet
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- Bony fishes
- Mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves
- Mobile benthic worms
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- No Data
- Egg Type
-
- Benthic
- No data
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic
- East Pacific endemic
- All species
- Regional Endemism
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- Mexican + Panamic provinces endemic
- TEP endemic
- Continent
- Continent only
- Continental TEP endemic
- All species
- Residency
-
- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
- Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
- IUCN Red List
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- Listed
- Least concern
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 3
- Depth Range Min
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- 1
- Depth Range Max
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- 15
