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Dactyloscopidae (Sand stargazers)
Etymology: Platygillellus: Greek, platys = flat + Theodore Nicolas Gill (1837-1914) researcher of abyssal fishes and systematics (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 30 m (Ref. 27742). Tropical; - 9°N
Western Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and Bahamas to Panama.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251)
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 25 - 26. Pale tan or white with 4 broad reddish-brown bands on side between nape and caudal fin base. Dorsal and caudal fin rays have dark spots. 3 spines in dorsal finlet (Ref. 26938).
Inhabits sand and rubble areas around coral reefs or exposed rocks. Absent from surf beaches (Ref. 27742). The reddish-brown bands along the sides of the fish serve as camouflage when the fish partially buries itself in sand (Ref. 26938).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Dawson, C.E., 1982. Atlantic sand stargazers (Pisces: Dactyloscopidae), with description of one new genus and seven new species. Bull. Mar. Sci. 32(1):14-85. (Ref. 27742)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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