Domain |    Eukarya |
Kingdom |    Animalia |
Phylum |    Chordata |
Family |    Dactylopteridae |
Description |    Flying gurnards |
Environment |    Marine |
Etymology |    Greek, daktylos = finger + Greek, pterygion = fin |
Genus |    2 |
No. of Species |    7 |
Order |    Scorpaeniformes |
Class |    Actinopterygii |
Reproductive Guild |     |
Distribution |    Tropical Indo-Pacific and Atlantic. Benthic. Head large and blunt, with the bones forming a helmet; with keels and a long preopercle spine. Scales scute-like. Pectoral fins greatly enlarged, the inner rays free; total 28-37 rays. Two isolated dorsal spines preceeding the two dorsal fins. Thoracic pelvic fins; with 1 spine and 4 soft rays. Lateral line absent. Vertebrae 22. Reaches about 50 cm maximum length. Bears superficial resemblance to triglids; creates sounds by stridulation using the hypomandibular bone. Exhibits a 'walking' movement on the sea floor, accomplished by an alternate movement of the pelvic fins. Feed on sand-dwelling invertebrates. Xenocephalus armatus, the armored blenny from New Ireland, formerly placed in its own family, may belong here. |
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