Banded Stargazer (Kathetostoma binigrasella)

Scientific name: Kathetostoma binigrasella Gomon & Roberts, 2011

The Banded Stargazer (Kathetostoma binigrasella) is a marine fish of the family Uranoscopidae. Native range: Pacific Ocean, endemic to New Zealand.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal soft rays: 14 - 16; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Head and body broad, head width 1.2-1.7 times its length, covered with tiny blunt knobs in juveniles to almost smooth in adults; mouth with several prominent canines between smaller canines; chin smooth; ventral margin of preopercle with four spine-like processes; anterior end of isthmus with a pair of prominent forward directed spines; prominent cleithral spine sheathed with skin above pectoral fin base; 17-19 gill rakers on first arch in the form of patches of fine teeth, patches broad, about six to ten teeth across patches, not in distinct rows, innermost teeth rather short; dorsal fin of moderate length, its base 43-66% of predorsal length; pelvic fins large, their length 23-28% SL; body whitish below usually with two broad, vertical, dark-brown, variously distinct bands or saddles across back, most distinct in juveniles and small adults.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Kathetostoma binigrasella
Family
Uranoscopidae (Stargazers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
56.0
Depth range
10–500 m (33–1640 ft)
Environment
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 10 - 500 m, usually 100 - 300 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Pacific Ocean: endemic to New Zealand.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries:

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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