Ryan Photographic - Dactylopteridae - Flying or helmet gurnards

Family Dactylopteridae

There are currently two genera and seven species of helmet gurnard according to Fishbase. The helmet gurnards, also known as the flying gurnards, are bottom living fish of the tropical Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The misleading common name of flying gurnard stems from their possession of enormous pectoral fins which they may spread when "walking" on the bottom. They use their pelvic fins to "walk". Wikipedia reports that they can produce sound by using muscles to "drum" the swim bladder but this appears to result from confusing the helmet gurnards with the apparently related sea robins. Fishbase says that they are able to produce sound by stridulating the hypomandibular bone (derived from the first pharyngeal arch). The largest species grows to about 50cm (20 inches). They feed on bottom dwelling invertebrates.

Dactyloptena orientalis Helmet or flying gurnard

FISH 6396 Dactyloptena orientalis, juvenile helmet gurnards, Lembeh Straits

FISH 6398 Dactyloptena orientalis, Helmet gurnard, Lembeh Straits

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