The stargazer now nests more comfortably with the croaker in the LRT

Tilt the skull down a bit and
Uranoscopus, the star-gazer, finds a better match with another fish with a skull also like a catcher’s mask, Genyonemus, the white croaker (Fig 1), examined here a few days ago.

Each one informed on the other when put together.

Figure 1. The white croaker, Genyonemus, here compared to the star-gazer, Uranoscopus. Distinct and different, yet when scored in the LRT no other taxa are closer to these two than they are to each other. ” data-image-caption=”

Figure 1. The white croaker, Genyonemus, here compared to the star-gazer, Uranoscopus. Distinct and different, yet when scored in the LRT no other taxa are closer to these two than they are to each other.

” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/genyonemus-uranoscopus588.jpg?w=219″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/genyonemus-uranoscopus588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-84542″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/genyonemus-uranoscopus588.jpg?w=584&h=799″ alt=”Figure 1. The white croaker, Genyonemus, here compared to the star-gazer, Uranoscopus. Distinct and different, yet when scored in the LRT no other taxa are closer to these two than they are to each other.” width=”584″ height=”799″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/genyonemus-uranoscopus588.jpg?w=584&h=799 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/genyonemus-uranoscopus588.jpg?w=110&h=150 110w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/genyonemus-uranoscopus588.jpg?w=219&h=300 219w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/genyonemus-uranoscopus588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />

Figure 1. The white croaker, Genyonemus, here compared to the star-gazer, Uranoscopus. Distinct and different, yet when scored in the LRT no other taxa are closer to these two than they are to each other.

Their differences kept them apart for over a year in the LRT
but when compared together similarities began to add up, starting with that heavily reinforced circumorbital ring and preoperculum. One schools en masse in the open seas. The other is a loner, letting the sea pass by overhead as it gazes toward the surface looking for unwary prey.

Genyonemus lineatus
(originally Leiostomus lineatus Ayers 1855, up to 15cm) is the extant white croaker, a schooling marine fish of the shallow waters of the Eastern Pacific. Traditionally it is related to the Moorish Idol, Zanclus. Here it shares more traits with Early Cretaceous Wadeichthys and even more traits with the bottom-dweller, Uranoscopus. Note the massive expansion of the lacrimals (tan) and laterally perforated crianial crest. Note the bony bars reinforcing the lacrimal (tan), postorbital (amber) and preoperculum (light yellow).

Uranoscopus bicinctus
(Linneaus 1758; 30cm) is the marbled stargazer. This angler-mimic lies half buried in sand to ambush prey. A small ‘lure’ wiggles over the jaws, as in anglers and frogfish. Large pectoral fins spread laterally.. The cleithrum spines are venomous. Uranoscopus can also produce an electric shock, but does not have electroreceptors. Compare to Genyonemus, the white croaker.

References
Ayers WO 1855. Description of new fishes from California.]. (Minutes of Academy meetings were printed in “The Pacific” (a newspaper) shortly after each meeting. New species date to publication in The Pacific. Dates of publication are given in each species account). The Pacific [newspaper]. v. 4 (nos 7-22). [Also appeared in Proc. Calif. Acad. Nat. Sci. v. 1.]
Linnaeus C 1758. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.

wiki/Genyonemus – white croaker
wiki/Uranoscopus