About Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829)
The oriental flying gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis, can reach a maximum total length of 40 cm (16 in), though its common adult size is around 20 cm (8 in). It has a broad head with a blunt snout and widely spaced eyes. Its robust body is heavily covered in protective armoured plating. The dorsal fin is made up of seven spines and nine soft rays, while the anal fin has no spines and between six and seven soft rays. This species has very large, rounded pectoral fins marked with many dark spots and wavy streaks, edged with a bright blue border. Each fin ray has a small, feeler-like extension at its tip. It is well camouflaged, with a grayish brown base color overlaid with dark brown or black markings across its head and body. The Oriental flying gurnard has a wide distribution across the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea. Its range extends from the coasts of East Africa to Polynesia, and includes the western, northern, and eastern coasts of Australia. It lives on the seabed in bays, estuaries, and sandy areas. It is most commonly found at depths of approximately 10 m (33 ft), but can occasionally be found as deep as 100 m (328 ft).
