VUVulnerable

Arrow Stargazer

Myxodagnus sagitta

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

Countries

01Classification

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Order

Perciformes

Family

Dactyloscopidae

Genus

Myxodagnus

Arrow Stargazer belongs to the family Dactyloscopidae, order Perciformes, within the unknown class.

02Description

Species Profile

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.

The Arrow Stargazer faces significant threats from coastal development and habitat degradation throughout its range in shallow marine environments. Bottom trawling and other destructive fishing practices damage the sandy and muddy substrates essential for this species' burrowing lifestyle, while pollution from coastal runoff further degrades water quality in critical habitats.

Key Facts

IUCN StatusVulnerable (VU)
GroupOther invertebrates
03Habitat

Habitat & Distribution

Arrow Stargazers inhabit shallow coastal waters with sandy and muddy bottoms, typically found buried in soft sediments in bays, estuaries, and nearshore marine environments. They prefer areas with fine substrate where they can easily burrow and ambush prey from their concealed positions.

MARINEMajor
04Threats

Threats

Bottom trawling and destructive fishing practices

HighOngoing

Coastal development and habitat loss

HighOngoing

Marine pollution and coastal runoff

MediumOngoing

Sediment disturbance from human activities

MediumOngoing
06Range

Found in 1 Country

Community

Community Sightings

Report a sighting

No community sightings yet. Be the first to report!

07Sources

Sources & Attribution

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Arrow Stargazer (Myxodagnus sagitta). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/arrow-stargazer

Full citation guide & data usage terms