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Cook's sand stargazer (Crystallodytes cookei) — Creediidae

Cook's sand stargazer

Crystallodytes cookei
Family: Creediidae

The Cook's sand stargazer (Crystallodytes cookei) is a saltwater fish of the family Creediidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–15.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

Cook's sand stargazer is a small sand stargazer (Dactyloscopidae) from shallow sandy water of the central Pacific, around Hawaii. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, pale, sandy body with eyes set high on the head and an upturned mouth. As an ambush hunter it lies buried in the sand with only its eyes showing and snaps at passing small crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cook's sand stargazer?

The Cook's sand stargazer has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Cook's sand stargazer live?

The Cook's sand stargazer lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Cook's sand stargazer get?

The Cook's sand stargazer grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Cook's sand stargazer dangerous to humans?

No, the Cook's sand stargazer is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Cooks zand-sterrenkijker sourced
English name
Cook's sand stargazer sourced
Scientific name
Crystallodytes cookei
Family
Creediidae
Other names
Cooke's sandburrower sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Creediidae

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