sandfish
Crapatalus novaezelandiae
- Usual depth13–28 m
- Water temperature12–18 °C
- Best monthsFebruary, March, and July
- How commonRare
Photo credit: (c) Dr Tony Ayling, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist
About this species
The New Zealand sand stargazer is a species of southern sandfish endemic to the Pacific waters around New Zealand. From North Cape to Otago Harbour, it occurs in shallow sandy areas generally less than 10m depth, particularly harbours and estuaries. Its length is up to 45 cm.
Text from the Wikipedia article “New Zealand sand stargazer”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 0 records
- February: 3 records
- March: 3 records
- April: 0 records
- May: 0 records
- June: 1 records
- July: 2 records
- August: 1 records
- September: 0 records
- October: 0 records
- November: 1 records
- December: 1 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 13–28 m · Deepest record: 375 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 12–18 °C
Photos
no rights reserved · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
Names and classification
- English
- sandfish, Sand stargazer
Other scientific names: Crapatalus novaezealandiae
Similar species
sandfishCrapatalus angusticeps
- Munro's Pygmy-stargazer
Crapatalus munroi
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 87 open-data records from 1973 to 2016.
- Species data updated November 1, 2026.
Log what you see on your next dive
The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.