Stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber)

Scientific name: Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus, 1758

Stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber)

The Stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber) is a marine fish of the family Uranoscopidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.

Biology

The shoulder spines can inflict, painful stings. Usually found buried in the sand or mud. Equipped with an acoustic apparatus that generates both acoustic and electric pulses. Electric discharge activity shows two temporal patterns: 1) reflexive discharges of short duration (milliseconds), elicited by mechanical stimulation, and 2) those of much longer duration (several seconds) observed only during the summer spawning period. Low-frequency spontaneous discharge activity (5-10 Hz), with a sexual dimorphism in discharge amplitude is also said to exist. This species suggestively represents a transitional form in the evolution of electric organs in fishes. Oviparous, eggs, larvae and juveniles are pelagic. Utilized fresh.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Uranoscopus scaber
Family
Uranoscopidae (Stargazers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
40.0
Common length
22.0
Depth range
15–400 m (49–1312 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 15 - 400 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Venomous
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2)

Sources

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

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