Dactylopteridae

1. DACTYLOPTERIDAE
Name –Soumya Ranjan Gouda

2. Family – Dactylopteridae
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order syngnathiformes
Family Dactylopteridae
Genus Dactyloptena
Species D.Orientalis
 Dactyloptena orientalis commonly known as the oriental flying
gurnard or purple flying gurnard.
 Gurnard is derived from the french word ‘gurnard’ meaning to grunt.
 The oriental flying gurnard can grow to 40 cm in length but common
size is about 20 cm.
 It has heavily armored robust body ,the dorsal fin has seven spines
and nine soft rays while anal fin has no spines and six to seven soft
rays.
 The huge pectoral fins having many dark spots and wavy streaks
and bright blue edge.
 The oriental flying gurnard is widespread throughout the tropical
waters of indi-pacific region including red sea.

3. Dactylopterus volitans
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
order sygnanthiformes
family Dactylopteridae
genus dactyloptena
species D.volitans
 The Dactylopterus volitans( flying gurnard ) also known as helmet gurnard .
 It is a bottom dwelling fish of tropical to warm temperate waters on both side of
atlantic .
 On American side found as far north as Massachusetts.Dactyloptena are found in the
Indian and pacific oceans.
 This is the only species in the monotypic genus Dactylopterus.It reaches up to 50 cm.
 This fish is variable in coloration and brownish or greenish with reddish or yellow
wish patches.
 This fish also has large eye,when excited the d.volitans spreads its wing.
 This is the only species in the monotypic genus.

4. Dactyloptena macracantha
kingdom Animalia
Phylum chordata
class Actinopterygii
Order synganthiformes
Family Dactylopteridae
genus Dactyloptena
Species D.macracantha
 The spotwing flying gurnard is not related to the true flyingfish.
 This fish can grow up to 38 cm in length and they feed on
crustaceans ,clams and small fishes.
 They have feeler like leading rays and extensions from each fin
ray.
 The flying gurnard does not fly but it can walk on the bottom by
alternatively moving its pelvic fins and short pectoral fin rays.
 This fish is an indo – pacific species ,it occurs from the northern
indain ocean to Japan.
 This fish is looking unusual fish because of its huge fish ,dull
head and grey or sometimes brown body that is covered with dark
brown or black spots .