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Dactyloptena orientalis

Dactyloptena orientalis (*)

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Osteichthyes
Classis: Actinopterygii
Subclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Ordo: Scorpaeniformes
Subordo: Dactylopteroidei
Familia: Dactylopteridae
Genera: Dactyloptena - Dactylopterus

The oriental flying gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis, is a flying gurnard of the family Dactylopteridae. This flying gurnard inhabits the Indo-Pacific Oceans at depths to 100 metres (330 ft). Their name is derived from the French word 'gurnard' meaning to grunt, for the grunting sound this fish makes.

The oriental flying gurnard is up to 40 centimetres (16 in) in length and is usually a grayish brown color with dark markings. The fish has huge, round pectoral fins having many dark markings and a bright blue edge. The pectoral fins are normally held against the body, but when threatened the fins are expanded in to scare predators which include sea breams and mackerel. The flying gurnard uses its pelvic fins to walk along the bottom of the ocean.

The oriental flying gurnard feed on bony fish, bivalves, and crustaceans.

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Source: Wikipedia, Wikispecies: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License