Deepwater Stargazer, Kathetostoma nigrofasciatum Waite & McCulloch 1915

Other Names: Banded Stonelifter, Blackbanded Stargazer

Summary:

A creamy-tan stargazer with two prominent broad dark brown bands across the back, one above pectoral fins and the another below the rear of the dorsal fin, brown lines radiating from the eyes, pale cheeks, a dark brown band on the upper part of the gill cover, a large dark brown spot on top of head, and brownish caudal and pelvic fins with white margins.
Although easily recognised by the distinctive spot on the head and prominent rear outline to the bony covering of the head, this species is rarely seen by anglers due to its deepwater habitat.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2025, Kathetostoma nigrofasciatum in Fishes of Australia, accessed 09 Jul 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2978

Deepwater Stargazer, Kathetostoma nigrofasciatum Waite & McCulloch 1915

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to southern and southwestern Australia from the eastern end of the Great Australian Bight , South Australia, to about Green Head, Western Australia.
Features	Dorsal fin 13-15; Anal fin 14; Caudal fin 12; Pectoral fin 17-18; Pelvic fin I, 5. Body slightly shallow (22-28% SL), of moderate length; head and trunk slightly depressed. Head moderately large (30-31% SL), almost completely encased in bone; non bony space between orbits moderately narrow (10-18% HL), space usually expanded and rounded posteriorly; posterior edge of bone on upper surface of head with a prominent pointed bulge on either side of mid-line; anterior portion of body with moderately large humeral spine, five spines enveloped in tissue along lower edge of operculum and base of jaw and pair of spines projecting forward between bases of ventral fins; eyes small (16-21% HL) directed upward; mouth large, vertical, lips with narrow fleshy fringe; row of small canines in lower jaw interspersed with several widely separated pairs of large canines; upper jaw with broad band of fine teeth; chin smoothly curved or wrinkled, without bony flaps or barbels; humeral spine usually covered by skin, without fleshy fringing below; opercle without fleshy fringing on free edge. Scales absent. A single dorsal fin of moderate length without spines; anal fin with elongate base, rays increasing in length posteriorly; caudal fin rounded. Pectoral fins large. Pelvic fins fleshy, jugular, arising below and slightly behind eyes.
Colour	Body creamy tan with two prominent broad dark brown bands across back, one above pectoral fins and another below posterior part of dorsal fin; brown lines radiating from eyes; cheeks pale; dark brown band on upper part of opercle; large dark brown spot centrally on top of head; caudal and pelvic fins brownish with white margins.
Similar Species	Differs from the Common Stargazer, Kathetostoma laeve, in having pale cheeks except for three dark bars radiating from the eye (vs. uniformly darkish cheeks and no bars radiating from the eye in K. laeve). The Speckled Stargazer, K. canaster, has a more speckled colour pattern.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin nigro- (= black) and fasciatus (= banded), in reference to the "four broad blackish cross-bars" on the head and body.
Species Citation	Kathetostoma nigrofasciatum Waite & McCulloch, 1915, Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia (Incorporated) 39: 469, pl. 13, figs. 1- 2. type locality: Doubtful Island Bay, Western Australia, depth 12-15 fathoms.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2025
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Deepwater Stargazer, Kathetostoma nigrofasciatum Waite & McCulloch 1915

References

Gomon, M.F. 1994. Family Uranoscopidae. pp. 718-725, figs 630-635 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Uranoscopidae. pp. 678-683 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Gomon, M.F. & Roberts, C.D. 2011. A second New Zealand species of the stargazer genus Kathetostoma (Trachinoidei: Uranoscopidae). Zootaxa 2776: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2776.1.1

May, J.L. & Maxwell, J.G.H. 1986. Trawl fish from temperate waters of Australia. CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research, Tasmania. 492 pp.

Pietsch, T.W. 1989. Phylogenetic relationships of trachinoid fishes of the family Uranoscopidae. Copeia 1989(2): 253-303.https://doi.org/10.2307/1445425

Smith, P.J., McPhee, R.P. & Roberts, C.D. 2006. DNA and meristic evidence for two species of giant stargazer (Teleostei: Uranoscopidae: Kathetostoma) in New Zealand waters. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 40: 379–387.

Waite, E.R. & McCulloch, A.R. 1915. The fishes of the South Australian Government trawling cruise, 1914. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 39: 455-476 fig. 1 pls 12-15 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/120332

Vilasri, V. 2013. Comparative anatomy and phylogenetic systematics of the family Uranoscopidae (Actinopterygii: Perciformes). Memoirs of the Faculty of Fisheries Hokkaido University 55(1/2): 1-106.