Family : Dactylopteridae (Flying gurnards)
Order : Scorpaeniformes  (scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Oriental flying gurnard
Fish Name : Dactyloptena orientalis
Max size : 40.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 3392)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 1 - 100 m
Climate : tropical; 35°N - 37°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to Australia and New Zealand.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 6-7. Heavily armored box-like body and winglike pectoral fins (Ref. 37816).
Biology : Inhabit coastal waters with sandy substrates (Ref. 1602, 48635); a shallow-living species, benthic in adults; only species found in oceanic islands (Ref. 27821). Solitary, well-camouflaged and slow-moving (Ref. 37816, 48635). Feed on crustaceans, clams, and small fish. May be caught using ring nets (Ref. 5213)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen and J.E. Hanley. 1989. (Ref. 7300)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses