Scientific Name
Dactylopterus volitans

Common Name
Flying gurnard

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 6. Pectoral fin very large and fan-like, with front 6 rays separated as small lobe (Ref. 26938).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Flying gurnards (Dactylopteridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: English Channel to Angola, including the Mediterranean, Madeira, and the Azores. Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to Massachusetts, USA and the Gulf of Mexico to Argentina.

Range

52°N - 45°S, 98°W - 36°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 100 m (Ref. 26999)

Trophic Level

3.64 s.e. 0.60 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

50.0 cm

Common Length

38.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated