Japanese Stargazer

Lower edge of preopercle with 3 spines, very rarely to be more. Labial fimbriae simple and poorly developed. Posterior nostril slitlike. Dorsoposterior margin of pectoral fin slightly concave; pectoral and caudal fins pale yellow in fresh specimens. Fifth proximal anal pterygiophore (the first to follow a complete haemal spine) usually inserts between the haemal spines of 13th and 14th vertebrae (Ref. 11439).

Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analsoft rays: 13 - 15; Vertebrae: 26

Spend a large part of their time buried in the mud or sand with only their eyes and a portion of the mouth protruding (Ref. 4716).

Found near shore, down to 260 m, on sand and sandy mud bottoms (Ref. 11230). Spend a large part of their time buried in the mud or sand with only their eyes and a portion of the mouth protruding (Ref. 4716). Cleithral spine with venom gland (Ref. 57406).

aquarium: commercial

分布於西太平洋區，由日本南部到南中國海。台灣分布於北部、西南部、東北部及澎湖等海域。

中小型魚，可食用，唯處理不易，故常作下雜魚處理。一般均以底拖網捕獲，一支釣亦可釣獲。

體延長；頭粗大，前端平扁；背面與兩側被粗骨板。吻短；眼小，位於頭背。口中大，幾垂直；眶前骨前下方具2個突棘； 上下頜、鋤骨與腭骨均具絨毛狀齒；下頜具蠕蟲狀附屬瓣隱於口內舌下方，並與下唇相連。前鰓蓋下緣具3尖棘。後鼻孔具管狀突起。鰓膜與峽部分離。體被小圓鱗，頭、頸背與胸部裸露；側線上側位。背鰭兩個，第一背鰭具IV-V弱棘；第二背鰭軟條數13-15；臀鰭條數14-15；尾鰭截形。體背側褐綠色，具黃斑；頭具黃紋；體下半部淺色。第一背鰭黑色；胸鰭黃白色；臀鰭白色；尾鰭前部黃色，後部黑褐色。

主要棲息於沙礫底部，棲息深度可達300 公尺。一般隱身於砂泥質底中，故而且很少被觀察到；利用下頜附屬瓣誘捕底棲生物。