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Searcher stargazer (Gillellus searcheri) — Dactyloscopidae

Searcher stargazer

Gillellus searcheri
LC · Least Concern

The Searcher stargazer (Gillellus searcheri) is a saltwater fish of the family Dactyloscopidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Searcher stargazer is a sand stargazer (Dactyloscopidae) from shallow, clear sandy water of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, sandy body with eyes set high on the head and an upward-slanted mouth. As a bottom-dweller it buries almost entirely in loose sand, with only the eyes showing, and snaps from that ambush at small crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Searcher stargazer?

The Searcher stargazer has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Searcher stargazer live?

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

How big does the Searcher stargazer get?

The Searcher stargazer grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Searcher stargazer dangerous to humans?

No, the Searcher stargazer is harmless to humans.

Is the Searcher stargazer edible?

The Searcher stargazer is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Searchers zandkijker sourced
English name
Searcher stargazer sourced
Scientific name
Gillellus searcheri
Family
Dactyloscopidae
Other names
Searcher stargazer verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gillellus

More from the family Dactyloscopidae

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