Fun Gurnard Facts For Kids

Gurnards or sea robins are said to have bony scales. These sea robins are quite well known for their sound productions. They have ornately patterned pectoral fins. They look a lot like the other types of gurnards. The brightly colored pectoral fins of these fish are mainly used for display or startling predators. The tub gurnards have a long body with a large head and large optics. They are yellow-red in color. The lower two to three spines of the pectoral fins are separate in position and are also used to probe the seabed, searching for hidden prey.

It is very easy to distinguish between red and tub gurnards; you can learn a difference between the two by looking at their large pectoral fins. The tub gurnards are known for having bright blue fins.

There are three species of the gurnard found inhabiting the British waters. The name terms of these are the red gurnard, the flying gurnard, and the tub. One to two species of these fishes is located in various aquatic regions.

Here on our page, we have lots of interesting facts on the gurnard that everyone will enjoy. So let's have a look at these interesting facts, and if you do like these, then read our articles on the Nile tilapia and the spotted garden eel.

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What type of animal is a gurnard?

A gurnard is a type of fish species of the Triglidae family. It is found in the different Atlantic regions and British waters.

What class of animal does a gurnard belong to?

The class of animal that a gurnard belongs to is Actinopterygii.

How many gurnards are there in the world?

To give an approximate number of the population of the gurnards is difficult. Still, by looking at the various sources, we can learn that they have a good population and that they are free from the threats of becoming extinct. The gurnard fish is easily located in the marine and coastal regions of the different British waterbodies.

Where does a gurnard live?

A gurnard fish is found living in the marine waters, shallow sandy beaches, and estuaries of the different regions of the world. They are widely distributed in the British waters. They are also found in the Atlantic Ocean.

What is a gurnard's habitat?

The basic habitat of a gurnard fish is the temperate marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific. This type of fish is also known as benthic fish, which means that they are mostly found living on the seabeds. A gurnard fish is found living on sandy beaches and estuaries of the British and Atlantic waters.

Who do gurnards live with?

A gurnard fish is found living with its own kind. There are different subspecies of gurnards, like the flying gurnard, red gurnard, and gray gurnard.

How long does a gurnard live?

The lifespan of a gurnard fish is 16 years.

How do they reproduce?

A female gurnard reproduces by laying eggs in the water and fertilized by the male gurnard fish. The breeding season of the gurnard fish lies between May and July. Both the males and females of the gurnard species guard the eggs.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN, the conservation status of a gurnard is declared as of Least Concern. This means that they are not under the threat of becoming Endangered or even Extinct. An exact number of their population is not given, but it is stated that they are quite abundantly existing and are known to be free from the threats of becoming Extinct.

What does the gurnard look like?

Gurnards have a long bony scaled body, with a large head and big eyes. The red gurnards are small in size when compared to the tub. The gurnards are well known for their brightly edges pectoral fins, which have at least the lower three to two spines separated in position and are also used to probe the seabed in search of the hidden prey. The different subspecies of gurnard fishes are a lot like each other when it comes to their description. They have a long body with a large head and big eyes. The tub gurnards long in length and are yellow-red.

How cute are they?

Whether a gurnard is cute or not is subjective, but it can look scary to some.

How do they communicate?

Gurnards communicate by knocking, grunting, and growling.

How big is a gurnard?

A gurnard is 16.5-21.6 in (42-55 cm) in length, and it is about four times bigger than a rat.

How fast can a gurnard swim?

A gurnard can swim at an average speed like most of the other seawater fish. However, their exact speed is unknown.

How much does a gurnard weigh?

A gurnard weighs about 0.5-3 lb (226-1360 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male fish and the female fish of the species do not have any specific names.

What would you call a baby gurnard?

A baby gurnard is called a juvenile.

What do they eat?

The gurnards' basic food comprises worms, crabs, shrimps, small fish, and crustaceans.

Are they poisonous?

Yes, gurnards are poisonous. They have poisonous spines, which can inflict a painful sting if not touched properly, and they also have poisonous glands at the base of the dorsal, anal and ventral fin spines.

Would they make a good pet?

They are mostly for consumption purposes.

Did you know...

A tub gurnard is located in Europe. It is a red-colored fish with brightly edged pectoral fins and has blue and green spots.

Sea robins are also considered to make vocal sounds, and they cannot fly.

The depth range of the gurnard is from the surface down to the bottom at about 0.2 mi (400 m), but these fishes are mostly located at the bottom of the sea at about 0.01-0.15 mi (30-250 m).

Bluefin tuna is the most unhealthy fish to eat.

The gurnards have bones. They are like flatheads due to a common characteristic feature which is a bone that connects the bones under the eyes.

The gray gurnard is considered to be the smallest of the three species.

A gurnard fish is also considered to be poisonous. They are known for having poisonous spines, which can inflict a painful sting if not touched properly. Apart from this, they are also known for having poisonous glands at the base of the dorsal, anal and ventral fin spines. Also, flying gurnards have no poison.

Gurnards are white fish that are good for eating, and taste really good, and are mildly sweet. They are not considered to be very oily. They are well-noted by their name for being healthy fish to eat.

Is the flying gurnard poisonous?

No, the flying gurnard is not poisonous. Venom is not present in them, so people do eat them.

Does the gurnard have bones?

Yes, gurnard fish is a bony fish. It has thick and bony scales and a strong structure.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our silky shark facts and black grouper facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable gurnard coloring pages.