Streaked gurnard facts for kids
The streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza), also known as the African gurnard or rock gurnard, is a type of ray-finned fish. It belongs to the family called Triglidae, which includes gurnards and sea robins. You can find this fish in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the western Indian Ocean. People often catch this species to eat.
Quick facts for kids Streaked gurnard |
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Chelidonichthys
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lastoviza
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Contents
How Scientists Name Fish
The streaked gurnard was first officially described in 1788. A French naturalist named Pierre Joseph Bonnaterre gave it the scientific name Trigla lastoviza. He found the first example of this fish near Split, Croatia.
What's in a Name?
The scientific name lastoviza comes from the common name for this fish in Split, Croatia. A scientist named Morten Thrane Brünnich reported this name, and Bonnaterre used it for his description.
What Does the Streaked Gurnard Look Like?
This fish has a big, triangle-shaped head that is quite bony. Its head has many ridges and small spines. It also has a deep groove on the back of its head.
It has two separate fins on its back, called dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin has 9 to 11 stiff spines. The second dorsal fin and the fin on its belly (called the anal fin) both have 14 to 17 soft rays.
The streaked gurnard's body has clear, slanted ridges on its skin. These ridges start from its lateral line, which is a special line of sensory organs along its side. Its belly is covered in scales, and the scales on its lateral line are larger with small spines.
The upper part of the fish's body is red. It has dark spots on its head and back, while its lower body is lighter in color. Its pectoral fins, which are like its "arms," are grayish with large, dark blue spots. The three lowest rays of these fins are separate from the rest of the fin. The front of its snout looks almost straight up and down.
Streaked gurnards can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) long, but they are usually around 15 cm (5.9 in).
Where Do Streaked Gurnards Live?
You can find the streaked gurnard in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Its range goes from southern Norway and Scotland all the way down to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. It also lives in the southwestern Indian Ocean, as far north as Mozambique. These fish are also found around the Macaronesian Islands and the islands in the Gulf of Guinea. They live in the Mediterranean Sea but are not found in the Black Sea.
This fish usually lives near the bottom of the ocean, on rocky or sandy areas. They can be found in shallow coastal waters or in deeper waters, up to 150 m (490 ft) deep.
Streaked Gurnard Life
Streaked gurnards sometimes swim together in groups, especially when they are closer to the surface. They mostly eat small crustaceans, which are tiny sea creatures like crabs and shrimp.
How Do They Reproduce?
In Europe, streaked gurnards usually lay their eggs in the middle of summer. This happens from June to August.
Streaked Gurnards and People
Fishermen often catch streaked gurnards in large nets called trawls. However, they usually only keep the biggest fish. You can often see these fish for sale in markets in the western Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea, and Cyprus. They are less common in other places. When sold, they are usually fresh or kept cool.
