Flying gurnard
Flying gurnard ( dactylopterus volitans)
The flying gurnard ( dactylopterus volitans) is a species of bony fish of the family of flight taps. It is characterized by very greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which he uses as wings while swimming. The species is found in both the eastern and the western Atlantic.
Features
The flight tap has an elongated, cone -shaped body with a large head, which is almost square in cross section. It reaches a body length of an average of 15 centimeters, the maximum length can be up to 50 centimeters. The steep head has a large, very broad and terminated mouth with fleshy lips. He is armored with helmet-like skin plates that expire back in two large spines, and numerous bars. The back and flanks are gray or brown with light and dark spots, belly is white or pink. The extended wing-like pectoral fins have a bright blue hem and numerous, arranged in patterns blue spots and lines.
The pectoral fins are constructed like wings and very greatly enlarged, so that they applied to far behind the approach of the anal fin rich. The front six fin rays are separated from the main fin and constitute a separate lobe. The pelvic fins are throat constantly. The dorsal fin is divided, the anterior dorsal fin consists of 8 hard jets, the second of a hard - and 8 soft rays and the anal fin has 6 soft rays. Along the center line of the edges extend 60 to 62 shed.
Dissemination
You can observe this in the Eastern Atlantic from Britain to Angola, including the Mediterranean, the Azores and Madeira. In the western Atlantic it is found from Canada to Massachusetts, in the Gulf of Mexico and the coast of Argentina.
Way of life
The fish lives mainly on sand and mud bottom in 10 to 30 meters depth, less common in deeper areas up to 80 meters. It feeds mainly on invertebrates such as crustaceans, molluscs and worms.
The spawning season during the summer. The eggs are released into the open water and float on the basis of the stored oil droplets in the surface water.