Stargazer

SOUTHERN STARGAZER - IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN

Stargazers cover themselves in the sand

This eyeball belongs to a rarely seen creature called a stargazer. There is a northern stargazer and a southern stargazer. Both look about the same, and the only way you can really tell the difference is the tail of the stargazer, as well as where it was seen. The tail of the northern stargazer has a central stripe that looks slightly different than the tail striping on the southern stargazer. However, these fish generally remain motionless, and cover themselves in sand. If you can’t see their tail, it is hard to identify these fish confidently. Both the northern and southern stargazers can be found in Florida, which is where I took this photo. More specifically, this was taken on the east coast of Florida at Blue Heron Bridge, in West Palm Beach.

Caribbean Sea Spider

Eel

Stargazers are interesting creatures that have unique body builds and behaviors. As you can see in the zoomed-out photo, stargazers are covered in a unique pattern of white dots. These dots are more concentrated at the front of the fish. The dots get larger and more spaced apart as you go towards the tail. These dots are only on the top of the stargazer and are likely used as a form of camouflage. It certainly blends in with the sand around it!

These fish can rapidly shake their bodies to sink into the sands below. They do this until they are completely covered in sand and only their eyeballs, which are located on the top of its head, are left exposed. As you have just learned, stargazers camouflage defense is very good, but they have another even more impressive defense mechanism. They can deliver electrical shocks! These shocks are generated from an area between the eyes, and they are thought to be used to stun prey. They say these shocks can be up to 50 volts, which is no joke! As if this weren’t enough, stargazers can also use venom as a defense. They have two spines near their dorsal fin that deliver the venom. These fish are the perfect predator, they can remain undetected with impressive camouflage, envenomate or shock you, then swallow you whole.

Blue Heron Bridge

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

If you look at the zoomed-in photo of the eyeball, you can see the dot pattern continues onto their eyelid skin!

These fish are the perfect predator