This ambush predator is a truly bizarre fish

Stargazers are aptly named for their fixed upward gaze, as if they are observing the constellations in the sky. In truth though, their eyes are fixed upward due to their method of hunting by lying burrowed into the sand, waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim over their large mouths. The eyes of the stargazer are elevated in order to stick out of the sand as the fish hides the rest of its body.

Prey will eventually wander over the top of this larger fish, but the stargazer also has a small appendage in its mouth that acts as a lure to attract smaller fish close. The lure protrudes from the upturned mouth and wiggles like a worm or small eel. Unwary fish that come close for a snack will suddenly find that they, themselves are the snack.

Stargazers lunge forward with incredible speed and engulf their prey with their large mouths. Rows of razor sharp teeth can seize or sever a fish with ease. These same teeth are arranged in an interlocking fashion that prevents sand from entering the mouth of the stargazer as it breathes or lies still in the sand.

This stargazer moves over the ocean bottom, disguising itself in the loose sand with surprising quickness. A few wiggles are all it takes to create a burrow and a covering that looks like an undisturbed patch of sand. Except for the two motionless eyes, nothing is visible from above.

Aside from being capable ambush predators, the stargazer also has venomous spines and some species have the ability to deliver an electric shock. Used for hunting or for self defense, these traits provide the stargazer with a considerable chance of avoiding being eaten. It is often surprising what lurks in the ocean, unseen, and unnoticed. We are only beginning to understand the beautiful and bizarre creatures that call this their home.