Purple Flying Gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829)

Scientific name: Dactyloptena orientalis
Alternative name/s:
Flying Gurnard, Indo-Pacific Flying Gurnard, Oriental Helmet Gurnard, Oriental Searobin
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    19/04/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Purple Flying Gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis Click to enlarge image
A Purple Flying Gurnard at a depth of 3 m, Lion Island, Bootless Bay, Papua New Guinea, 3 October 2010. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Dactyloptena
    Species
    orientalis
    Family
    Dactylopteridae
    Order
    Scorpaeniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 38 cm in length.

Introduction

The Purple Flying Gurnard can be recognised by its huge pectoral fins that are covered with dark spots and wavy lines. The species occurs from the Western Indian Ocean to Polynesia.

Identification

The Purple Flying Gurnard has a very wide interorbital space and huge pectoral fins. These fins are covered with dark spots and wavy lines. Each fin ray has feeler-like extensions. The species has a blunt head, wide interorbital space, and a grey to brown body that is covered with dark brown to black spots.

Purple Flying Gurnard, <i>Dactyloptena orientalis</i>
A Purple Flying Gurnard photographed at night, Gold Coast Seaway, Queensland, 2 September 2013. Image: Ian Banks
© Ian Banks

Habitat

The Purple Flying Gurnard lives in a range of habitats including estuaries, coastal bays and deep sandy areas. It is often seen in water less than 10 m in depth, but is also caught in trawls down to 100 m.

Distribution

The Purple Flying Gurnard occurs from East Africa to Polynesia. In Australia it is recorded around the northern half of the country from the central coast of Western Australia to southern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Other behaviours and adaptations

The pectoral fins are usually held against the sides of the body. When the fish is disturbed, it quickly expands its pectoral fins, often retracting them before swimming off at speed. Despite its common name, the Purple Flying Gurnard does not fly. It can however "walk" on the bottom by alternatively moving the pelvic fins and short pectoral fin rays.

References

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665.
  4. Poss, S.G. & W.N. Eschmeyer. in Carpenter, K.E & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Wstern Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.