As if their ambush tactics weren’t enough, stargazers also have the power of electric shock, as well as venom. In addition to the top-mounted eyes, a stargazer also has a large, upward-facing mouth in a large head. And if that’s not enough to deter you from grabbing one, these fish also possess a pair of electric organs behind the eyes, which can emit a shock of up to 50 volts. Mural paintings of ancient Egypt depicting these fish are thus common. $3 for 3 months. It inhabits sandy bottoms of the temperate waters of the western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina to New York. Go to top ; Share this post. Stargazar fish is a poisonous animal. Pictures were sent in by different people. Such fish use their electric discharge to stun prey and as a defensive mechanism. If you want a fish as exotic and lethal to its prey as a Stonefish but WON'T kill you, these are perfect! A RARE fish, capable of delivering an electric shock and possessing a venomous spine which delivers poison, has been caught at Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head. Discover the Chesapeake Field Guide Fish Northern Stargazer. Stargazer fish poisonous. Credits: Adam Rees / Scuba Works; Canvasmas21 wiki; Nat Geo Kids;  MONSTERS OF THE DEEP (cool underwater site to check out! The British Health and Safety Executive, whose job is normally to interfere with almost every aspect of daily life in the UK (“you are strongly advised not to drink from bottles marked ‘Rat Poison’ portraying a Skull & Crossbones motif, lest disappointment should result”) has assisted: A voltage as low as 50 volts applied between two parts of the human body causes a current to flow that can block the electrical signals between the brain and the muscles. The electric shock generated by the fish is … Venomous Spines (Ex) A stargazer has two large venomous spines situated behind its head. Galarian Stunfisk may be based on a foothold trap. Or a shocking fish. The Northern Stargazer has a face only a mother could love and an electric shock to boot. Save 90%. The exact effect is dependent upon a large number of things including the size of the voltage, which parts of the body are involved, how damp the person is, and the length of time the current flows. Close up of a Northern Stargazer fish. Get to know these 8 electric animals that might give you a shock! It also may be based on the goosefish. “I was so excited to get it. The spines of two large poisons are located on each pectoral fin. Sometimes the only thing exposed above the sand are its eyeballs. Stargazers have the ability to produce an electric shock from an organ located between their eyes which they use in self defense so be careful when handling one. The eyes, which were on the side of the larval head, will also migrate to the top of the head. Pictured below is a Southern Stargazer. They have two large poisonous spines on the back of their eyelids and on their pistillate wings. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. $3 for 3 months. Stargazers (family Uranoscopidae) are venomous ambush predators that have eyes on the top of their heads. If approached by a diver, it generally will not move unless disturbed. They bury themselves beneath the sand and use a worm-like lure to tempt prey close to their mouths, launching an attack when the prey is within striking distance. Stargazer sting is one of the most toxic to humans around the world. The WTF? These eggs hatch into small, transparent larvae that live in the water column. Stargazer. bullshark Member. Northern Stargazer Astroscopus guttatus. There are two of these spots and to me they resemble a frogs ears. It lives in shallow waters of seas and oceans and is quite commonly found in the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean. WTF? The northern stargazer is a strange-looking fish with a speckled, flattened body and a large head. Can electric fish give you an electric shock? Report post. (2) The minute eyes of the Stargazer fish are located at the top of its body and the large sized mouth is faced upwards. Stargazer fish half buried in the seabed. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Many have noticed that electric fish twitch, especially when removed from water. The stargazer uses its side fins as shovels to quickly burrow below the sand in a matter of seconds. WEIRD FISH – AND WHAT’S WITH THE WEIRD NAME? Stargazers have the unique ability to produce an electric shock from an organ located between their eyes on the top of their head. Many readers also told us the Stargazer was good to eat. The stargazer has modified eye muscles that give off an electric current - essentially shocking and immobilizing his prey. In all, there are almost 50 species of stargazers found in 8 different genera. Well they also have venomous spines near their gills & above their pectoral fins, Well. Stargazer fish will not harm humans unless it is disturbed. Stargazer; This is a fish species which is equipped with modified eye muscles that are able to emit electric charges. Both of these pictures are of a Northern Stargazer. 1 of 3. Shock (Ex) A stargazer delivers an electrical shock with each successful bite attack, dealing an additional 1d6 points of electricity damage. Some of these fishes have a large spine on each shoulder, and some (Astroscopus) have electrical organs on top of the head. Northern stargazers have an organ on their heads that can deliver an electric charge that stuns and confuses prey and helps ward off predators. The Southern Stargazer is an unusual fish. At the base of its yellow tail is a yellow marking shaped like an exclamation mark when seen from behind. Oh for a superpower like that, even if only to be used defensively. Mike . Although their shock is not as powerful as other well known electric fish, such as electric eels – which are capable of producing up to 500 volts, more than enough to kill a horse. Not unusual in the gulf and only occasionally caught. They don't look anything like a minature wahoo though. It may also be based on the stargazer, another fish that spends most of its time buried in the sea bottom and can make electric discharges when it's disturbed. Furthermore, this remarkable creature also inhabits a rather large portion of the oceans of the world. Prey capture does not involve the electrical organ. Save 90%. The eyes and nostrils are strategically located on the top of the head so that they will remain above the sand when the fish is buried. Sign in to follow this . This tube carries waste water away from the fish and outside the surrounding sand. electric eels, electric catfish, torpedo rays, and the stargazer fish are able to generate a strong electric current thanks to the help of specialized organs. The guttatus (L) part simply means spotted or speckled. They bury themselves in the sand and wait for prey (usually smaller fish) to happen by. Possibly a scientist looking for asteroids foretelling the end of life as we know it. Some species even have a worm-shaped … Pictured below is a Southern Stargazer. Astroscopus is derived from the Greek word “astro” = star and the latin word “scopus” = mark at which to shoot. Here are the most interesting facts about the Stargazer Fish: (1) Stargazer fish is a poisonous creature. These spines are poisonous and gives electric shock. It is found inshore, at depths to 120 feet (36 m). “They’re the meanest things in creation,” fish scientist William Leo Smith, who owns a stargazer, … These little-known spiny fish have peepers that pack a punch. Their eyes are situated on top of the head and poke up through the sand, hence the name stargazer. The body is moderately elongate. Once the prey is in range, the stargazer rises from the sand and in an instant swallows the fish whole. The electric stargazer, a strongly electric fish (Photo Credit : Canvasman21 /Wikimedia Commons) That being said, electric fish aren’t completely shock-proof. Sources and Additional Information Possibly a scientist looking for asteroids foretelling the end of life as we know it. Two round flat areas that are a little irradescent. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It lives throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans in relatively shallow waters and hunts at night. A shock from a stargazer will still be pretty painful. On the northern stargazer, this stripe extends onto the rear portion of the body; on the southern stargazer this stripe does not extend pass the tail. Note (but do not touch) the area behind its eyes…. And then there’s the stargazer fish. “They’re the meanest things in creation,” fish scientist William Leo Smith, who owns a stargazer, told the New York Times. The eggs are small, transparent, and slowly float to the surface. There is a special organ just behind its eyes that produces an electric shock which it uses defensively, so caution is advised when handling this fish. 4. It helps fend off predators too. It has two small, flimsy fins at the sides of its body; each with two lobes. Two large spines on their backs allow the fish to inject venom into potential attackers or a misplaced human hand or foot. According to the exceptionally cool ‘Monsters of the Deep’ (see credits), the stargazer shock is approximately 50 volts. Reproduction An easy way to tell these two species apart is to note the middle stripe on the tail. Northern stargazer (English), aranhuco (Portuguese), bezmek (Serbian), cabecudo (Portuguese), kurbaga baligi (Turkish), lychnos (Greek), pesce prete (Italian), rata (Spanish), skaber amerykanski (Polish), sterngucker (German), stjarnkikare (Swedish), and taivaantahystaja (Finnish). A stargazer fish buries itself into the sand using its fins as shovels to blend seamlessly into the ocean floor. The eyes, gill slits, nostrils and most of its mouth are on the top of its body, and its pectoral fins are adept at digging and burying. They also begin to acquire a black color that deepens with time. Jun 19, 2004 #2 Cool fish Mike. Those capable of generating a perceptible and possibly painful electric shock would be classified as strongly electric fish (Figure 1). Stargazer a dreamy eyed person looking into a cloudless sky pondering the meaning of life. Many readers also told us the Stargazer was good to eat. The fish can also shock its victim by releasing a current from an organ which produces up to 50 volts of electricity. They have no scales, but they make up for that with an impressive 13 anal spines, Unimpressed? Get to know these 8 electric animals that might give you a shock! This fish possesses a special talent: it is able to create weak electrical currents from a specialized organ located behind the eyes. When the juveniles reach about a foot in length, they move offshore and become adults. According to the exceptionally cool ‘Monsters of the Deep’ (see credits), the stargazer shock is approximately 50 volts. The family includes about 51 species (one extinct) in eight genera, all marine and found worldwide in shallow and deep saltwaters. (WHAT’S THAT FISH?) Almost exactly between these two eyes lies the two thick gray lips that form its mouth. Or a shocking fish. This fish is a serious contender. 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