Flying Gurnard

The flying gurnard is a quirky bottom-dweller found on sandy and muddy slopes, typically between 20 and 200 metres. Its most striking feature is a pair of enormous wing-like pectoral fins that it flashes open when alarmed or hunting, revealing bright colours and creating an intimidating display. The body itself is small and armoured with bony plating, and the fish uses enlarged leg-like fin rays to walk along the seabed in search of small crustaceans and fish. Though they cannot actually fly, their dramatic fin-spreading is one of the seabed's most memorable defensive behaviours.