Bony fish
Atlantic Flying Gurnard
Dactylopterus volitans
Also known as: Batfish, Flying Fish, Grunt Fish, Helmet Gurnard, Sea Robin
ALSO KNOWN AS
- Batfish
- Flying Fish
- Grunt Fish
- Helmet Gurnard
- Sea Robin
LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
01
Overview
Found resting, or "flying" over mud, rock, and sandy bottoms, foraging for food with their pectoral fins, over coral and rocky reefs. Can vary in depth of colour when threatened.
The Flying Gurnard has huge, round Pectoral fins. The fins are usually held against the body, but when threatened they can expand their wings (fins) to scare off a predator.
The pelvic fins act like legs as the fish walks along the bottom of the ocean. They also grunt. French term for the word Gurnard means to grunt.
02
How to identify
- Pattern
- blotcheswhite spots
- Behaviour
- bottom dwellingchanges colour
Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.
03
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean, Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean
- Exact location · 2
- Country only · 10
LIVES IN
Found resting, or "flying" over mud, rock, and sandy bottoms, foraging for food with their pectoral fins, over coral and rocky reefs.
04
Adult photos 12
05
Discussion 15
15 comments
- Victor· 16 Jun 2017
Saw this gurnard fish in Koolina lagoon, Oahu, Hawaii, today. Had to research it to find out what it was. Guess it's in the Pacific also.
- Cathy· 23 Feb 2016
While in Hilo,Hawaii, I photographed this fish. Nobody I talked to has ever seen it and did not know what it might be. It was in the Japanese Gardens in Hilo and the date was Feb12,2016.
- Jonathan lee· 26 Aug 2015
I am currently on holiday in kiotari, Rhodes and spent about 45minutes today following one of these whilst snorkeling in about 3-5m of water. Fascinating watching it feed on whatever it was finding under small rocks!
- Roberta L. Raymond· 11 Sept 2014
I have observed these fish a lot in Cayman Islands and Jamaica. The forward fins really look like hands and are used to hunt in the sand. To me they look like a fish evolving to be something else....almost lizard like and ready to emerge from the water. Do the "hands" have 5 appendages like fingers? There is not enough information about this fascinating fish. They seem very gentle and if you are very calm and quiet, they let you observe them before they float away.
- Adrian Clarke· 20 Aug 2014
I have seen this fish on the North Coast of Cyprus in depths of around 5m. I was facinated by its unusual form
- Joyce· 13 Nov 2013
I was snorkelling and saw a flying gurnard in shallow water in a reef area in Cancun. The gurnard moved slowly along the sandy bottom which had many small rocks. Sometimes the gurnard swam, other times it moved ahead using its forward fins as hands. I saw it push over several small rocks in its path and it got a tasty treat under one small rock. I moved over top and I spread my wings (arms) and it spread its wings in response.
- Demos· 16 Jul 2013
I've seen five big flying gurnards while spear fishing in the Corinthian Gulf in Greece. Could have easily shot all of them, but didn't have the heart. They are beautiful and seem quite intelligent.
- geoff 3· 5 Jul 2013
Caught a flying gurnard in 60ft water using a sprat just of the coast of Mazarron Spain at La Athoria today at 4.30pm. No fight but was happy to catch such a pretty fish at about 2lbs so put it back in the Med.
- Allie· 4 Apr 2012
I have spotted the Flying Gurnard in a specific area in Tanzania. I guess they are wider spread than we thought.
- Alain MOREL· 28 Jun 2011
In the lagoons of Rezunion especially in St Pierre you can find this fish it is named Grondin Volant in French
ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS
Deep dive
06
More in the family
Dactylopteriformes
