Scientific name Dactylopterus volitans Phylum Chordata Order Scorpaeniformes | Higher classification Dactylopterus Rank Species | |
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Genus DactylopterusLacépède, 1801 Similar Dactylopterus, Sea robins, Oriental flying gurnard, Dactyloptena, Red gurnard | ||
Flying gurnard dactylopterus flying fish with legs big fish dive club
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. 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. On the European and African side, it ranges from the English Channel to Angola, including the Mediterranean. Similar and related species from the genus Dactyloptena are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
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When excited, the fish spreads its "wings", which are semi-transparent, with a phosphorescent bright blue coloration at their tips. These are designed to scare away predators, but they don't enable the fish to glide in the air as do the fins of flying fish. 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.
The fish's main diet consists of small fish, bivalves, and crustaceans.
Flying gurnard
