Fish
Grey Gurnard
Eutrigla gurnardus · also called grey gurnet
On the muddy floor of the North Sea, a grey gurnard stalks over the sediment on its finger-like fin rays, tasting for crabs and shrimps.
Overview
The grey gurnard, Eutrigla gurnardus, is a Least Concern sea robin of sandy and muddy sea beds from Iceland and Norway to the Mediterranean. Its bony head, walking fin rays, and grunting voice make it one of the oddest fish in European seas.
A fish that walks and talks
The gurnard’s finger-like fin rays act as both legs and tasting organs, and its swim bladder works as a drum, producing the grunts that give the family its name.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and abundant.
Grey Gurnard: common questions
How does a gurnard walk?
It has three finger-like rays at the front of each pectoral fin, which it uses to walk over the sea bed and to taste and feel for prey.
Do gurnards make noises?
Yes, they can make grunts and croaks by vibrating muscles against the swim bladder, a sound often heard when they are taken from the water.
What does the grey gurnard eat?
It eats shrimps, crabs, and small fish, which it finds on and just above the sand and mud.
Where is the grey gurnard found?
It lives on sandy and muddy sea beds from Iceland and Norway to the Mediterranean, including the North Sea.