Redescription of Uranoscopus bicinctus Temminck and Schlegel 1843 (Teleostei: Uranoscopidae): an integrative approach resolves taxonomic uncertainty related to variation in body colouration and oral luring organ

Abstract The highest diversity of the family Uranoscopidae (commonly known as stargazers) is in the Indo-Pacific. Many guidebooks and studies from the region have found the number and identification of species to be difficult to determine, especially in the genus Uranoscopus . Herein we redescribe Uranoscopus bicinctus Temminck and Schlegel 1843 to address new information on the morphological variation across the species’ range that has contributed to taxonomic confusion. We use museum specimens and genetic data from across their distribution from Japan to Australia to explain differences in the body colouration (e.g., presence/absence of black spots) and the oral luring organ (e.g., complexity of cirri, tendrils). We then discuss taxonomic confusion in Uranoscopus bicinctus and compare to other uranoscopids to aid in future identification of this species.