Stargazer
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Uranoscopidae
Genera
Astroscopus Genyagnus Gnathagnus Ichthyscopus Kathetostoma Pleuroscopus Selenoscopus Uranoscopus Xenocephalus See text for species. Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Animalia redirects here. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ... Families many, see text The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. ...

The stargazers are a family Uranoscopidae of perciform fish that have eyes on top of their heads (thus the name). The family includes about 50 species in 8 genera, all marine and found worldwide in shallow waters. In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is 1) a rank or 2) a taxon in that rank. ... Families many, see text The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Ocean (disambiguation). ...

In addition to the top-mounted eyes, stargazers also have a large upward-facing mouth in a large head. Their usual habit is to bury themselves in sand, and leap upwards to ambush prey (benthic fish and invertebrates) that pass overhead. Some species have a worm-shaped lure growing out of the floor of the mouth, which they can wiggle to attract prey's attention. Both the dorsal and anal fins are relatively long; some lack dorsal spines. Lengths range from 18 cm up to 90 cm, for the giant stargazer Kathetostoma giganteum. In marine geology and biology, benthos are the organisms and habitats of the sea floor; in freshwater biology they are the organisms and habitats of the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and creeks. ... Invertebrate is a term that describes any animal without a spinal column. ... Dorsal Fin of the Orca A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of fishes, whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs light more than does air. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ...

Stargazers are venomous; they have two large poison spines situated behind the opercle and above the pectoral fins. They can also cause electric shocks. It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ... The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ... Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs light more than does air. ... Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a human or animal body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or nerves. ...

Genera and species

• Genus Astroscopus
• Genus Genyagnus
  • Spotted stargazer, Genyagnus monopterygius (Schneider, 1801)
• Genus Gnathagnus
  • Armoured blenny, Gnathagnus armatus (Kaup, 1858)
  • Gnathagnus cribratus Kishimoto, 1989
  • Freckled stargazer, Gnathagnus egregius (Jordan & Thompson, 1905)
  • Bulldog stargazer, Gnathagnus innotabilis Waite, 1904
• Genus Ichthyscopus
• Genus Kathetostoma
  • Lancer stargazer, Kathetostoma albigutta (Bean, 1892)
  • Smooth stargazer, Kathetostoma averruncus Jordan & Bollman, 1890
  • Kathetostoma canaster Gomon & Last, 1987
  • Spiny stargazer, Kathetostoma cubana Barbour, 1941
  • Kathetostoma fluviatilis Hutton, 1872
  • Giant stargazer, Kathetostoma giganteum Haast, 1873
  • Common stargazer, Kathetostoma laeve (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
  • Deepwater stargazer, Kathetostoma nigrofasciatum Waite & McCulloch, 1915
• Genus Pleuroscopus
• Genus Selenoscopus
• Genus Uranoscopus
• Genus 'Xenocephalus

Trivia

Stargazer is also the name for a mutant mouse line that contains a mutation of a gene encoding the protein, stargazin, a transmembrane protein that acts as an accessory subunit of mammalian glutamate receptors. Stargazer animals are ataxic, owing to deficits in cerebellar function, and manifest epileptic seizures.

References

• "Uranoscopidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.