Diversity

Dactyloscopids derive their common name, sand stargazers, from their eyes, which protrude from the tops of their heads, sometimes on stalks. Sand stargazers usually remain burrowed into the sand with only the eyes, along with the snout and sometimes the top of the head, uncovered. Members of this family occupy shallow warm waters and are carnivorous. They are small, cryptic fishes and little is known about their behavior or reproductive habits. There are nine genera in the family and about 41 species.