The video of the stargazer fish sticking its face out of the sand in shallow water in Singapore has attracted great attention on social networks, reaching more than 54 million views and 1.3 million likes on Instagram.

The image of the creature with bulging eyes and a strange face reminds many people of famous characters such as the French bulldog, actor Steve Buscemi and the character Gollum in the movie Lord of the Rings.

(Photo: The Untamed Paths) 

Dr. Tan Heok Hui, a fish expert at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore, said stargazer fish often bury themselves in the sand to hunt for prey. These species can protrude their tongues like a worm to lure prey. 

Untamed Paths founder Dennis Chan, who discovered the fish, said stargazers often hide to wait for prey and warned people to observe from a distance and not provoke them. Chan emphasized that the video is intended to evoke wonder and appreciation of the natural world, not to mock the creature’s appearance. The stargazer fish or starfish has the scientific name Uranoscopus.

This fish possesses jagged, sharp, scary teeth. The stargazer fish has eyes located on the top of its head and looking upward. Stargazer fish often bury themselves under the sand when hunting, leaving only their sharp teeth and eyes exposed. Their food includes small fish, crabs and crustaceans.

Therefore, this fish is considered a predator that specializes in sneak attacks. Stargazer fish can swallow prey that is equal in size to itself. In particular, stargazer fish have the ability to discharge electricity through the discharge organ located between the eyes.

This electric current is strong enough to paralyze prey and scare away enemies, but is not dangerous to humans.

 The stargazer fish is about 56cm long with a dark brown body with white spots. We invite readers to watch more videos: Strange fish with the ability to be invisible, only appearing in Nha Trang.