Home · Triglidae · Streaked gurnard
Streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza) — Triglidae

Streaked gurnard

Chelidonichthys lastoviza
Family: Triglidae
LC · Least Concern

The Streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza) is a saltwater fish of the family Triglidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10–150 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Atlantic from Norway around the Cape of Good Hope to Mozambique; Mediterranean Sea.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Streaked gurnard?

Description

The streaked gurnard is a bottom fish of the family Triglidae reaching about 40 cm. The reddish body carries dark cross-bars, giving the species its name, and large pectoral fins. The lower three pectoral rays are free and used as feelers to walk over sand and rock bottoms and detect food. Like other gurnards the fish can make sounds with its swim bladder. The streaked gurnard occurs in the eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Mozambique, and in the Mediterranean, usually between 10 and 40 m. It feeds mainly on crustaceans and is a valued food fish across its range.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Streaked gurnard?

The Streaked gurnard has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Reddish gurnard with dark transverse stripes and large pectoral fins; the three lowest pectoral fin rays are separate and serve as feelers on the bottom.

Where does the Streaked gurnard live?

The Streaked gurnard lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Atlantic from Norway around the Cape of Good Hope to Mozambique; Mediterranean Sea.

How big does the Streaked gurnard get?

The Streaked gurnard grows to a maximum of about 40 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Streaked gurnard dangerous to humans?

No, the Streaked gurnard is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Streaked gurnard edible?

Yes, the Streaked gurnard is commonly eaten.

More photos

Streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza) — Triglidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Bernat Garrigós, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza) — Triglidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Giosue Reale, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza) — Triglidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Ana Santos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza) — Triglidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) whodden, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Easily confused with

These species look like the Streaked gurnard and live in the same waters.

Want the complete picture on the Streaked gurnard?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Streaked gurnard is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Streaked gurnard verified
Scientific name
Chelidonichthys lastoviza
Family
Triglidae
Other names
Rock gurnard; Streaked gurnard verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40 verified
Average length (cm)
15 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight sourced
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10 verified
Max depth (m)
150 verified
Natural range
Eastern Atlantic from Norway around the Cape of Good Hope to Mozambique; Mediterranean Sea. verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Diet (detail)
Worms, crustaceans, molluscs and benthic invertebrates
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
Max. age (years)
18 verified
Seasonality
Bottom-living species on rock and sand down to about 150 m; sexually mature at around 15 cm. sourced
Special features
Reddish gurnard with dark transverse stripes and large pectoral fins; the three lowest pectoral fin rays are separate and serve as feelers on the bottom. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten verified
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Chelidonichthys

More from the family Triglidae

Want the complete picture on the Streaked gurnard?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Streaked gurnard is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Streaked gurnard?