Flying gurnard

The flying gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans), also known as the helmet gurnard, is a bottom-dwelling fish of tropical to warm temperate waters on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.[2] On the American side, it is found as far north as Massachusetts (exceptionally as far as Canada) and as far south as Argentina, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.[3] On the European and African side, it ranges from the English Channel to Angola, including the Mediterranean.[3] This is the only species in the monotypic genus Dactylopterus. Similar and related species from the genus Dactyloptena are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Flying gurnard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Dactylopteridae
Genus: Dactylopterus
Lacépède, 1801
Species:
D. volitans
Binomial name
Dactylopterus volitans
Synonyms
  • Callionymus pelagicus Rafinesque, 1818
  • Cephalacanthus spinarella (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Cephalacanthus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Dactilopterus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Dactylopterus blochii Swainson, 1839
  • Dactylopterus communis Owen, 1853
  • Dactylopterus fasciatus Swainson, 1839
  • Dactylopterus occidentalis Swainson, 1839
  • Dactylopterus spinarella (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Dactylopterus tentaculatus Swainson, 1839
  • Dactylopterus vulgaris Steindachner, 1867
  • Gasterosteus spinarella Linnaeus, 1758
  • Gonocephalus macrocephalus Gronow, 1854
  • Polynemus sexradiatus Mitchill, 1818
  • Trigla fasciata Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Trigla volitans Linnaeus, 1758

This fish is variable in coloration, being brownish or greenish with reddish or yellowish patches.[4] When excited, the fish spreads its "wings", which are semi-transparent, with a phosphorescent bright blue coloration at their tips. The fish also has large eyes. It reaches up to 50 cm (20 in) in length and 1.8 kg (4.0 lb) in weight.[3]

The fish's main diet consists of small fish, bivalves, and crustaceans.[5]

References
  1. Carpenter, K.E.; Munroe, T. & Robertson, R. (2015). "Dactylopterus volitans". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T185182A1777936. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T185182A1777936.en.
  2. "flying gurnard | marine fish". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  3. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Dactylopterus volitans" in FishBase. Dec 2007 version.
  4. Bigelow, H. B. and W. C. Schroeder. Flying Gurnard, Dactylopterus volitans (Linnaeus) 1758. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. Fishery Bulletin 74. United States Fish & Wildlife Service. 1953.
  5. "The Flying Gurnard - Whats That Fish!". www.whatsthatfish.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
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