‘Chelidonichthys cuculus’
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The species has one long fin for swimming. Its key characteristic is three individual lower rays of pectoral fins that act like fingers. These sensory organs are used to feel for small fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates living in the sediment. These rays appear like legs and often give the impression of walking along the seabed. A large pectoral fin on each side appears like wings. In the larger Tub Gurnard these appear a bright blue colour. They flare these fins as a display or to startle a potential predator. The remainder of the fish is a bright red with pinkish-silver mottling on the sides of the head. On average around 40cm’s in length and found on sand, shingle and rock bottoms.
This species is a very distinctive bottom living fish. Characterised by a stout long body, large head and eyes and moderately large scales.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
The red gurnard, also known as the East Atlantic red gurnard, is a fish species of Triglidae family. It is native to the temperate eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and it’s range extends from southern Norway and Sweden, south to the British Isles, France, Spain, Madeira, the Azores and the coast of Africa and as far south as Mauritania. It is also found in the Mediterranean Sea and possibly the Black Sea.
STRANGELY VOCAL
These fish are strangely vocal, especially when caught. They can produce a croaking like grunt. Their name came from this noise as the old French word ‘Gornart’ means to grunt. They don’t like to work harder than they have to so prefer to travel and feed where currents are slower, such as the edge of a channel or harbour.
BREEDING
The Gurnard live for around 16 years and reach sexual maturity between 2-3 years (around 23 cm’s in length). During this period their growth rate slows down. The female of the species grows faster and is generally larger than the males. Spawning takes place in the Spring and summer. Spawning grounds are widespread and the egg and larval development occurs in the surface waters.