Species: Heteristius cinctus, Banded sand-stargazer

Heteristius cinctus (Osburn & Nichols, 1916)

Banded Stargazer, Banded Sand Stargazer

Body compressed, tapering to tail; head pointed; eyes not on stalks; top and bottom lips with skin flaps; tubular nostrils; dorsal fin in 3 parts, front part a II-spined finlet with its origin over nape, then 1-2 free spines before the main part of the fin, II + (I-(I + I)) + XVI-XIX, 18-22; segmented anal rays 33-36 (usually 34-35); pectoral rays 13-15 (usually 14); lateral line continuous, bends down under dorsal spines VIII-XII; scales smooth, head scaleless, belly completely scaled; total lateral-line scales 52-56; scales in straight (posterior) part of lateral line 31-35 (usually 32-33).

Translucent, with 3 blackish bars on side and about 12 blackish saddles across back, each bordered by white saddles; several white spots along mid-side; a central black blotch just before base of tail fin; tail fin with a white bar on its base.

Size: to 4.5 cm.

Habitat: sandy bottoms.

Depth: 1-30 m.

Southern Baja and the mouth of the Gulf of California to Ecuador.