stargazer

views updated May 21 2018

star·gaz·er / ˈstärˌgāzər/ • n. 1. inf. an astronomer or astrologer. ∎  a daydreamer. 2. a fish (families Uranoscopidae and Dactyloscopidae) of warm seas that normally lies buried in the sand with only its eyes, which are on top of the head, protruding.DERIVATIVES: star·gaze v.

Dactyloscopidae

views updated May 29 2018

Dactyloscopidae (sand stargazer; subclass Actinopterygii, order Perciformes) A family of mainly marine, tropical fish that have a somewhat bulky head, a large and almost vertical mouth, eyes positioned on top of the head, and long dorsal and anal fins, the anal fin originating well forward under the spinous dorsal. The lateral line is well developed. The fish tend to bury themselves in the sand with only part of the head free, awaiting the arrival of unsuspecting prey. There are about 20 Atlantic and Pacific species.

stargazer

views updated May 14 2018

stargazer See URANOSCOPIDAE.

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