Dactyloscopus pectoralis Gill, 1861
Whitesaddle stargazer
Dactyloscopus pectoralis
photo by Robertson, R.

Family:  Dactyloscopidae (Sand stargazers)
Max. size:  5.2 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 45 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific Ocean: from the Gulf of California and southwestern tip of Baja California northward to Bahia Santa Maria. Former subspecies D. pectoralis fallax (Mexico to Ecuador, including Cocos Island) and D. pectoralis insulatus (Revillagigedo Islands) in Ref. 11482 were elevated to species level.
Diagnosis:  Distinguished from D. fallax and D. insulatus by having the following characters: scales absent above the lateral line; upper lip fimbriae, modally 9; preopercular canal pores, modally 5; unbranched labial fimbriae (Ref. 82814).
Biology:  Found on sandy bottoms near reefs (Ref. 37955). Feeds on small fishes and invertebrates (Ref. 11482). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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