Dactyloscopus is a genus of sand stargazers native to the coasts of the Americas.
Heteristius cinctus, the banded stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coast of the Americas from Baja California, Mexico to Ecuador where it can be found on sandy bottoms at depths of from 1 to 27 m. It can reach a maximum of 4.5 cm (1.8 in) in total length. This species is currently the only known member of its genus.
Leurochilus acon, the Smoothlip stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the waters around the Caribbean islands of the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Antigua and Cuba where it can be found on bottoms consisting of sand, marl and rock at depths from near the surface to 8 metres (26 ft). It can reach a maximum length of 2.9 centimetres (1.1 in) SL. This species is currently the only known member of its genus.
Dactylagnus mundus, the giant sand stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer found in the Gulf of California and along the Pacific coast of North America from Baja California to Panama as well as around the Galapagos Islands. It prefers sandy beaches down to a depth of about 5 metres (16 ft) and occasionally down to 15 metres (49 ft). It can reach a maximum length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) SL. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries.
Dactyloscopus amnis, the riverine stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coastal waters of Mexico where it is found in both marine and brackish water habitats.
Dactyloscopus boehlkei is a species of sand stargazer native to the coastal waters around the Bahamas, Cuba and the Lesser Antilles where it can be found at depths of from 0 to 8 metres. It can reach a maximum length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) SL. The specific name honours the American ichthyologist James Erwin Böhlke (1930-1982) who was curator of fishes at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Dactyloscopus byersi, the notchtail stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coast of Mexico to Panama where it can be found at depths of from 0 to 2 metres. It can reach a maximum length of 5 centimetres (2.0 in) NG. The specific name honours Major and Mrs. Joseph Byers, about whom no other information is available, since the name honours two people it should be Dactyloscopus byersorum.
Dactyloscopus comptus is a species of sand stargazer native to the coastal waters of the Bahamas and possibly Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It can reach a maximum length of 3.9 centimetres (1.5 in) SL.
Dactyloscopus crossotus, the bigeye stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the coastal Atlantic waters of Florida, United States and from the Bahamas to Brazil where it prefers sandy beaches at depths of from 0 to 3 metres, occasionally down to 8 metres (26 ft). It buries itself in the sand to ambush prey, leaving only its eyes, mouth and nose exposed. It can reach a maximum length of 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) TL.
Dactyloscopus fimbriatus is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coastal waters of Central and South America from Nicaragua to Ecuador where it can be found at depths of from 15 to 22 metres. It can reach a maximum length of 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) SL.
Dactyloscopus foraminosus, the reticulate stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the coastal waters of Brazil where it can be found at depths of from 11 to 79 metres. This species may also occur off the coast of Florida, United States. It can reach a maximum length of 7.9 centimetres (3.1 in) NG.
Dactyloscopus lunaticus, the moonstruck stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coast of Central America from southern Baja California to the Gulf of Panama where it can be found at depths down to 60 metres (200 ft).
Dactyloscopus metoecus, the Mexican stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coast of Mexico where it can be found at depths of from 0 to 7 metres.
Dactyloscopus minutus, the tiny stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coast of Mexico where it can be found at depths of from 0 to 2 metres.
Dactyloscopus poeyi, the shortchin stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the coasts of the Bahamas, the Antilles and the Caribbean coast of Central and South America from Belize to Venezuela. It can be found on sandy substrates at depths of from 0 to 9 metres. It can reach a maximum length of 5.8 centimetres (2.3 in) SL. The specific name honours the Cuban ichthyologist Felipe Poey (1799-1891).
Gillellus chathamensis, the Cocos stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer endemic to Cocos Island, Costa Rica where it can be found in areas with sandy bottoms at depths of from 5 to 12 metres. It can reach a maximum length of 3.8 centimetres (1.5 in) TL.
Gillellus semicinctus, the half-banded stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer native to the Pacific coast of the Americas from the Gulf of California to Colombia, as well as occurring in the Galapagos Islands. It can be found on sandy substrates at depths of from 5 to 140 metres. It can reach a maximum length of 5.2 centimetres (2.0 in) TL.
Myxodagnus sagitta is a species of sand stargazer endemic to the Galapagos Islands where it can be found in areas with sandy bottoms at depths of from 18 to 46 metres. This species can reach a maximum length of 6.1 centimetres (2.4 in) SL.
Platygillellus rubellulus, the Shortfin sand stargazer, is a species of sand stargazer endemic native to the waters around the Galapagos Islands where it prefers to live in areas of fine-grained sediments at depths of from 0 to 20 metres. It can reach a maximum length of 6.2 centimetres (2.4 in) SL.
Dactyloscopus insulatus is a species of sand stargazer from the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The species is endemic to the Revillagigedo Islands, such as San Benedicto Island, Socorro Island and Clarion Island.
