Oriental flying gurnard

Oriental flying gurnard
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Dactylopteridae
Genus:	Dactyloptena
Species:	D. orientalis
Binomial name
Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829)

The oriental flying gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis, is a flying gurnard of the family Dactylopteridae. This flying gurnard inhabits the Indo-Pacific Oceans at depths to 100 metres (330 ft). Their name is derived from the French word 'gurnard' meaning to grunt, for the grunting sound this fish makes.

The oriental flying gurnard is up to 40 centimetres (16 in) in length and is usually a grayish brown color with dark markings. The fish has huge, round pectoral fins having many dark markings and a bright blue edge. The pectoral fins are normally held against the body, but when threatened the fins are expanded in to scare predators which include sea breams and mackerel. The flying gurnard uses its pelvic fins to walk along the bottom of the ocean.

The oriental flying gurnard feed on bony fish, bivalves, and crustaceans.

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External links

• Dactyloptena orientalis page at the Australian Museum website.
• Dactyloptena Orientalis entry at Fishbase.