Species: Dactyloscopus zelotes, Imitator sand-stargazer
chin not strongly projecting
lip flaps: ~16 above, ~23 below
Dactyloscopus zelotes Jordan & Gilbert in Jordan & Evermann, 1896
Imitator sand-stargazer
Body compressed, tapering to tail; head large, flattened above, rounded and narrow at front; lower jaw not strongly projecting beyond lower lip; eyesprotrusible, on short stalks, with 1 papilla; tubular nostrils, rear nostril opens at base of front nostril; both lips with skin flaps (usually unbranched), 16 (15-18) above, 23 (22-25) below; edge of operculum with 20 (15-25) 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, XIII (XII-XIV), 32 (31-33); anal II, 36 (35-37); pectoral usually 13 rays; no notch under end of tail base; tail fin short, some rays branched; lateral line scales 51 (49-52); lateral line continuous, bends down under last dorsal spine; scales smooth, head and belly scaleless; area above front section of lateral line completely scaled, with several rows of scales.
Inside mouth pigmented; head with dark bar across eyes,nape with 2 dark bars; 10-11 wide dark bars along upper back; side with 2 dark stripes (along lateral line & above anal fin); fins pale or mottled with brown; tail fin with distinct dark spot on base.
Size: 10.5 cm.
Habitat: estuaries and coastal sandy areas.
Depth: 1-20 m.
El Salvador to Panama.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Brackish
- Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore Only
- Inshore
- Water Column Position
-
- Bottom
- Bottom only
- Habitat
-
- Sand & gravel
- Soft bottom only
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- FishBase Habitat
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- Demersal
- Feeding Group
-
- No Data
- Carnivore
- Diet
-
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves
- Mobile benthic worms
- Bony fishes
- No Data
- Egg Type
-
- Pelagic larva
- Benthic
- No data
- Global Endemism
-
- East Pacific endemic
- All species
- Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic
- Regional Endemism
-
- Continent
- TEP endemic
- All species
- Continent only
- Panamic province endemic
- Continental TEP endemic
- Residency
-
- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
- IUCN Red List
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- Data deficient
- Listed
- CITES
-
- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 10.5
- Depth Range Min
-
- 1
- Depth Range Max
-
- 20
