WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Southern Stargazer

Astroscopus ygraecum

Also known as: Popeye Fish, Pop-eyed Fish, Tube-nosed Stargazer, Astroscopus y-graecum

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@jcastar · Florida, Ponce Inlet, United States · April 20151 / 4
01

Overview

Found singly, buried in gravel, mud, and sandy areas, with just the eyes and mouth showing, waiting for their prey to pass by! Over silty, sandy lagoons, and coastal waters.
They feed on benthic fish and invertebrates, by sucking them whole into their mouths.

The name stargazer comes from the fact the eyes are positioned on top of their heads! They are usually found buried in the sand with just their heads showing waiting to ambush their unsuspecting prey as they swim passed!
Stargazer possess electric organs located in a specialized pouch behind the eyes and can discharge up to 50 volts, depending on the temperature of the water at the time!

02

How to identify

COLOURS

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found singly, buried in gravel, mud, and sandy areas, with just the eyes and mouth showing, waiting for their prey to pass by!

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Adult photos 4

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyUranoscopidae
    6. genusAstroscopus
    7. speciesAstroscopus ygraecum (Cuvier, 1829)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Stargazers (Uranoscopidae)