Animal Species:Common Stargazer, Kathetostoma laeve (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
The Common Stargazer can be recognised by its large, squarish head, tapering scaleless body and upward pointing mouth and eyes. It occurs in temperate marine waters in bays, estuaries and near shore areas, often on sandy substrates.
Common Stargazer on a silty substrate
Ákos Lumnitzer
© Ákos Lumnitzer
Alternative Name/s
Banded Stonelifter, Barred Stargazer, Catfish, Eastern Stargazer, Southern Stargazer, Stonelifter
Identification
The Common Stargazer can be recognised by its large, squarish head, tapering scaleless body and upward pointing mouth and eyes. It has a large backward-directed spine just behind the operculum, and large pectoral fins.
The species is usually grey to brown dorsally and white below. The pectoral and caudal fins have white margins and the body often has two dark bands across the back.
Size range
It grows to 75 cm in length.
Distribution
The species occurs in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland to south-western Western Australia, including Tasmania. Fish occurring in south-western Western Australia may be a distinct species.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Common Stargazer specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The species lives mostly in bays, estuaries and near shore areas, often on sandy substrates.
Economic/social impacts
Night divers have been bitten by this fish.
Classification
- Species:
- laeve
- Genus:
- Kathetostoma
- Family:
- Uranoscopidae
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F, C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Mark McGrouther
, Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags fish, ichthyology, Eastern Stargazer, Kathetostoma laeve, sandy bottom, Uranoscopidae, Common Stargazer,
Hi Derek, Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your input. Telling me that you caught a fish north of the distribution that was previously listed on the page was very useful. The webpage had been online for quite some time and needed updating. I have corrected the known distribution (from Hoese et al 2006 - see refs). Your fish now falls within the distribution of the species. I have also updated the standard and common names. Thanks again.