Piper gurnard (Trigla lyra)

Scientific name: Trigla lyra Linnaeus, 1758

The Piper gurnard (Trigla lyra) is a marine fish of the family Triglidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, north of British Isles and North Sea to Walvis Bay, Namibia, including Madeira and the Mediterranean (excluding the Black Sea).

Biology

Found on sand and mud bottoms. Feeds on shrimps and crabs.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Trigla lyra
Family: Triglidae (Searobins)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 60.0
Common length: 30.0
Depth range: 100–700 m (328–2297 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 100 - 700 m, usually 150 - 400 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: north of British Isles and North Sea to Walvis Bay, Namibia, including Madeira and the Mediterranean (excluding the Black Sea).
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.11-0.21; tmax=8)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026