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.[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 | |
|---|---|
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| A flying gurnard near Crete, Greece | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Syngnathiformes |
| Family: | Dactylopteridae |
| Genus: | Dactylopterus Lacépède, 1801 |
| Species: | D. volitans
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| Binomial name | |
| Dactylopterus volitans | |
| Synonyms | |
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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 semitransparent, 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]
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In the Caribbeans -
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Jamaica
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References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "flying gurnard | marine fish". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Dactylopterus volitans". FishBase. Dec 2007 version.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Flying Gurnard - Whats That Fish!". www.whatsthatfish.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
External links
edit- Media related to Dactylopterus volitans at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Dactylopterus volitans at Wikispecies
- Photos of Flying gurnard on Sealife Collection
