Head to head
Grey Gurnard vs Flying Gurnard
Grey Gurnard
VS Flying Gurnard
The grey gurnard and the flying gurnard look alike in several ways, with bony heads and finger-like fin rays, but they are not close relatives.
| Grey Gurnard | Flying Gurnard | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Eutrigla gurnardus | Dactylopterus volitans |
| Relationship | A true gurnard, or sea robin | Not closely related to the true gurnards, and the sole Atlantic member of its own family |
| Head and body | A large, armoured head covered in bony plates and spines, and a tapering grey-brown body with small white spots | A blunt, armoured, helmet-like head and a tapering body in bony plates, up to about 50 cm long |
| Pectoral fins | Broad fins with three finger-like rays at the front | Enormously enlarged pectoral fins, spotted and edged with bright blue, spread suddenly when the fish is alarmed |
| Walking | Uses the finger-like rays to walk over the sea bed and to taste and feel for prey | Uses the finger-like lower rays alternately to clamber across the bottom and to probe for hidden prey |
| Sound | Makes grunts and croaks by vibrating muscles against its swim bladder | Makes grunting or drumming sounds using muscles against the swim bladder |
| Diet | Shrimps, crabs, and small fish found on and just above the sand and mud | Small crabs, shrimp, clams, and bottom-dwelling fish |
| Range | Sandy and muddy sea beds from Iceland and Norway to the Mediterranean, including the North Sea | Warm parts of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, on sand, mud, and seagrass in shallow coastal water |
Grey Gurnard vs Flying Gurnard: common questions
Can the flying gurnard fly?
No, it cannot leave the water or glide, and it spreads its enlarged, blue-edged pectoral fins only to startle predators.
Are the two gurnards related?
Not closely: the grey gurnard is a true gurnard, while the flying gurnard belongs to its own family, and the resemblance is convergent.
Do both make noises?
Yes, both can make grunting sounds using muscles against the swim bladder.