Streaked Gurnard

Chelidonichthys lastoviza

The streaked gurnard is a ray-finned fish characterized by its large, triangular bony head adorned with ridges and spines. Its body is marked with clear, oblique ridges of skin along the lateral line, and its upper body is red with dark spots on the head and back, while the lower body is paler. The pectoral fins are greyish with large dark blue spots, and the three lower rays are separated from the rest of the fin. Typically, streaked gurnards reach a length of about 15 cm, although they can grow up to 40 cm. This species inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Norway to South Africa and extends into the southwestern Indian Ocean up to Mozambique. It is also present in the Mediterranean Sea but not in the Black Sea. The streaked gurnard is a demersal fish found over rocky and sandy substrates from shallow coastal waters down to depths of 150 meters. Its diet primarily consists of small crustaceans. Divers may encounter streaked gurnards forming schools near the surface. They are harmless to humans and are of commercial importance as a food fish, frequently caught in trawls. The IUCN lists the streaked gurnard as Least Concern.