Oriental Flying Gurnard (species: Dactyloptena orientalis) in Frankland Island Group, QLD (Gaia Guide)
Frankland Island Group, QLD > Animalia > Chordata > Actinopterygii > Scorpaeniformes > Dactylopteridae > Dactyloptena > Dactyloptena orientalis (gallery)
Dactyloptena orientalis
Oriental Flying Gurnard


©Edward Sze-Tu: Lizard Island

©Edward Sze-Tu: Lizard Island

©Bernard Dupont

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Scorpaeniformes
Family Dactylopteridae
Genus Dactyloptena
Species Dactyloptena orientalis

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Colours

                             

Distinguishing features

It has a heavily armored box-like body and wing-like pectoral fins. (Wikipedia)

Size

  • Up to 40 cm (Total length)
  • Up to 20 cm (Common length)

Depth range

  • From 1 m to 100 m

Synonyms

Comments

Their name is derived from the French word 'gurnard' meaning to grunt, for the grunting sound this fish makes.

by David Witherall

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to Australia and New Zealand.

It is found in coastal waters with sandy substrates. (Fishbase)

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: Rarely observed

Behaviour

Walks along the bottom using pelvic fin rays. 

Web resources

References

  • Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
  • Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1997). Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea: Second edition Crawford House Publishing, Bathurst, NSW.