Tub gurnard
Gurnard ( Chelidonichthys lucernus )
The tub gurnard ( Chelidonichthys lucernus ) is the most familiar type of gurnard within the order of Perciformes. Its range extends from Norway to North Africa, he is also to be found in the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Features
The tub gurnard has an elongated body with a very large head, which is narrower at the rear. It reaches a body length of 50 centimeters average, the maximum length can be up to 70 centimeters. The head has a large, very broad and terminated mouth with fleshy lips. The teeth on the jaws and the palate are like a brush. The head is armored with numerous bars and staffed to the gills and front gill covers with spines. The back and sides are reddish brown and marked with dark transverse bands and spots, belly is pink or white. The head is red and the top of the wing-like pectoral fins has brown spots and a striking blue hem.
The pectoral fins are constructed like wings, the front three hard jets do not have fins and skin are used as stand alone rays freely. The pelvic fins are constantly and throat at the base of the dorsal fin are 24-25 bone spines arranged rows. The dorsal fin is divided, the first hartstrahlige dorsal fin is much shorter and higher than the second weichstrahlige. The anterior dorsal fin consists of 9 to 10 hard jets, the second from 16 soft rays. The anal fin has 14 to 16 soft rays and the pectoral fin in addition to the 3 solitary hard jets 10 to 11 soft rays.
Dissemination
The tub gurnard is found in the northeastern Atlantic from Norway and the North Sea to West Africa and in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Way of life
The fish lives mainly on sand, silt and gravel bottom in 20 to 300 meters, where it feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. The name derives from the family is the ability to give growling or grunting noises. These sounds produce the fish by means of a muscle that brings the two-chamber swim bladder to vibrate.
The spawning season falls in the months of May to July. The eggs are released into the open water and float on the basis of the stored oil droplets in the surface water.
Relevance to humans
Gurnard are popular and high quality food fish.