Flying Gurnard 
Flying Gurnard
Dactyloptena orientalis
Family, Genus, Class & Etymology
| Family | Dactylopteridae |
| Description | Flying gurnards |
| Environment | Marine |
| Etymology | Greek, daktylos = finger + Greek, pterygion = fin |
| Genus | 2 |
| No. of Species | 7 |
| Order | Scorpaeniformes |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Reproductive Guild | |
| Distribution | Tropical Indo-Pacific and Atlantic. Benthic. Head large and blunt, with the bones forming a helmet; with keels and a long preopercle spine. Scales scute-like. Pectoral fins greatly enlarged, the inner rays free; total 28-37 rays. Two isolated dorsal spines preceeding the two dorsal fins. Thoracic pelvic fins; with 1 spine and 4 soft rays. Lateral line absent. Vertebrae 22. Reaches about 50 cm maximum length. Bears superficial resemblance to triglids; creates sounds by stridulation using the hypomandibular bone. Exhibits a 'walking' movement on the sea floor, accomplished by an alternate movement of the pelvic fins. Feed on sand-dwelling invertebrates. Xenocephalus armatus, the armored blenny from New Ireland, formerly placed in its own family, may belong here. |
Other "Popular" Names for this Fish
Oriental Flying Gurnard
Location Habitat
The Gurnard uses the front rays of this pectoral fins to scratch in the sand for invertebrates. When the hapless invertebrate pops out of the sand, the Gurnard pounces on it. I believe that the wide pectorals funnel the prey forward towards his mouth. These are found on sandy bottoms and are not at all common.