Sand star gazers

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Sand star gazers
Dactyloscopus tridigitatus

Dactyloscopus tridigitatus

Systematics
Acanthomorphata
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Ovalentaria
Order : Blennioidei (Blenniiformes)
Family : Sand star gazers
Scientific name
Dactyloscopidae
Gill , 1872

The sand star gazers (Dactyloscopidae) are a family of very small, bottom -dwelling fish from the suborder of the mucous fish- like (Blennioidei).

features

The only 2.5 to 15 centimeters long expectant animals have an elongated body, a strong Upper permanent mouth, a broad head and very prominent, upward eyes. Her lips are fringed with fleshy fringes; the teeth are tiny. The gill opening is large and exposes the gill membrane. The gill cover is equipped with 4 to 25 skin turf on its upper edge. The throaty pelvic fins have only one hard ray and three soft rays. The dorsal fin is long and has 7 to 23 hard and 12 to 36 soft rays. Both parts of the dorsal fin can be separate, but also grown together. The anal fin is also long with 21 to 41 soft rays. The fish have relatively large round scales ; The stomach and head are flaky. The side line begins high above the pectoral fins and then curves down to the side center line. Sand star gazers are brownish, reddish, or pale in color, sometimes with a marble pattern or striped.

distribution

The animals inhabit the tropical and subtropical coastal regions of America . 19 species live on the Atlantic side from the coast of the USA to Brazil , 24 species live on the east coast of the Pacific from the Gulf of California to Chile .

Way of life

Sand star gazers live in the sea from the intertidal zone to depths of 100 meters, some species in the brackish water of river mouths or in the lower reaches of rivers. They dig into the sandy soil so that only their mouth and eyes look out. The males of some species tend to brood and protect their spawn between the broad pectoral fins.

Genera and species

There are nine genera and 48 species:

literature

Web links