General Description

Body robust with a huge squarish head, upward-looking eyes, and a large upturned mouth giving an almost "bulldog"-like appearance. Greyish-brown to tan, usually with two dark saddle-like bands across the back, and white margins on the pectoral and caudal fins. Usually 40 cm long head to tail tip (up to 75 cm).

Biology

A powerful ambush predator on small fishes, this stargazer is common but escapes notice by burrowing into soft sediments to lie in wait for a meal. Common stargazers may be aggressive, and the large spines above the gill opening are reportedly venomous.

Distribution

Southern Australia.

Habitat

Shallow sandy bottom in coastal regions and bays, to a depth of 60 m.

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