| Uranoscopidae (Stargazers) |
| 90 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 20 years |
|
demersal; depth range 30 - 600 m |
| Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-19; Anal soft rays: 17-18; Vertebrae: 33-34. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 17-19; A 17-18; vertebrae 33-34; body rather elongate, tapering from a moderately broad, flat, bony head (width 1.1-1.4 times its length) covered with tiny blunt spines in juveniles to low radiating ridges in adults; small eyes directed upwards; bony orbital rim separated medially by naked rectangular space; mouth large, vertical, with several prominent canines between smaller canines; chin smooth; lips with short ridge-like crenulations; 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; gill rakers on first arch 14-17, in the form of patches of fine teeth, patches narrow, teeth in three or four rows, innermost row rather long; no scales; lateral line pores in skin high on side close to base of dorsal fin; dorsal fin low, elongate, its base 67-82% of predorsal length; pectoral fins huge, fan-like; pelvic fins moderately large, length 20-25% SL (Ref. 86516). |
| Reported from depths between 30 m (Ref. 58489) and 600 m (Ref. 9258). Buries in sea bed until suitable prey passes by. Utilized fresh and frozen; can be steamed, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). |
|
Not Evaluated
(Ref. 96402)
|
| harmless |
|
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