New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine 🌡️ Subtropical

Australian stargazer

Xenocephalus australiensis Kishimoto, 1989
Max Length
30 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.2
Depth
299–500 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Australian stargazer (Xenocephalus australiensis) is a ray-finned fish of the family Uranoscopidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters. This species can reach a maximum total length of 30 cm. It occurs at depths between 299 and 500 metres. With a trophic level of 4.2, it is a mid-level predator.

Scientific Name
Xenocephalus australiensis
Authority
Kishimoto, 1989
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Max Length
30 cm
Depth Range
299–500 m
Trophic Level
4.2
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Australian stargazer is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Australian stargazer is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 299 - 500 m . Subtropical Known only from the continental slope of northwestern Australia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine
Trophic Level
4.2±0.7

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00617 × L3.11 (TL)
Max TL
30cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
33.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.2
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Kishimoto, 1989

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Gnathagnus elongatus australiensis Kishimoto 1989 Synonym
Xenocephalus elongatus australiensis Kishimoto 1989 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Australian stargazer ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.