Stargazer

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(Redirected from Stargazers)

For other meanings of stargazer, see Stargazer (disambiguation).

iStargazer

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.

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 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.

Stargazers are venomous; they have two large poison spines situated behind the opercle and above the pectoral fins. They can also cause electric shocks.

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.