Argentina sphyraena

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Argentina sphyraena
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Argentiniformes
Family: Argentinidae
Genus: Argentina
Species:
A. sphyraena
Binomial name
Argentina sphyraena
Linnaeus, 1758

[1] 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 animals, and are very important to the food chain. [3] These fish mainly feed 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 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] Length range varies quite a bit between the two genders, females range in length from about 10.9 to 16.4 centimeters, and the males range from 8.9 to 13.5 centimeters. [4] As for weight, females on average weigh around 15.08 grams, and males weigh around 9.47 grams. [4] The total average length and weight range for both sexes is 5.2 to 21.9 centimeters in length, and 2.0 to 182.5 grams in weight. [2] The sex ratio between the fish is 1:1.98, so the female ratio is slightly biased. [2]

Although the fish is not important to the economy, it has been claimed to be very important to the Black Sea's ecosystem. [2]

Its native range is Europe and Africa. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Argentina sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 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.
  4. 1 2 "Redirecting". login.microsoftonline.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.