| Argentina sphyraena | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Argentiniformes |
| Family: | Argentinidae |
| Genus: | Argentina |
| Species: | A. sphyraena
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| Binomial name | |
| Argentina sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758
| |
Argentina sphyraena is a species of fish belonging to the family Argentinidae.[1] Also known as the "stargazer", they inhabit the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, and typically live between 10 and 100 meters in depth.[2] The stargazers are sedentary fish that camouflage themselves in sand or mud in order to prey upon other animals.[2] They are carnivorous, benthic predators, or "bottom dwelling", which means they eat small animal, and are very important to the food chain.[3] These fish mainly feeds on polychaetes and crustaceans.[3]
The Argentina sphyraena has an elongated and strong, laterally flattened body, with small teeth.[3] Their eyes are located at the top of the head, with a vertical mouths and a protractile appendix attached to the jaw.[3] The fish do not live past the age of 5, and the females grow to be larger than males do.[2]
Its native range is Europe and Africa.[1]
- ^ a b "Argentina sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ a b c Demirhan, S. A.; Can, M. F.; Seyhan, K. (December 2007). "Age and growth of stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber L., 1758) in the southeastern Black Sea". Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 23 (6): 692–694. Bibcode:2007JApIc..23..692D. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2007.00863.x. ISSN 0175-8659.
- ^ a b c d admin (2023-07-04). "Feeding habits of stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus, 1758) in the southern Adriatic Sea (Croatia)". Naše more (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-11-06.