Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

The red gurnard Chelidonichthys cuculus is a member of the scorpionfish family and has a charcteristic suborbital stay, a bony extension from below the eye to the preopercle. It may reach up to 50 cm in length. It can be recognised by the enlarged rays off the pectoral fin, used for food detection, and the way the pectoral fins open and close like a bird's wing. The red gurnard is a good sound producer and, when caught, it makes a croaking noise similar to a frog. It is red in colour with pinkish-silver mottling.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Widely recorded throughout British and Irish waters.

Global distribution

Abundant around the coasts of the British Isles and the Bay of Biscay, and recorded in the North Sea east into the Kattegat, around the Azores and in the Mediterranean.

Habitat

The red gurnard is a demersal species. It can be found over sand, gravel and rocks on the continental shelf, from 15 m down to a depth of 400 m.

Depth range

15 - 400 m

Identifying features

  • Up to 50 cm in length.
  • Bony extension from below the eye to the preopercle.
  • Two to three enlarged rays off each pectoral fin.
  • Large angular head and steep snout.
  • Up to 10 dorsal spines.
  • Scales absent on breast and anterior part of belly.

Additional information

The red gurnard is classified as a generalist. It is characterized by fast growth and early sexual maturity at a relatively large size (Quero et al., 1986).

Listed by

- none -

Further information sources

Fishabase (www.fishbase.org)

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Bibliography

  1. Froese, R. & Pauly, D., 2007. Fishbase. A global information system on fishes. [On-line] http://www.fishbase.org, 2008-02-18

  2. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  3. Picton, B.E. & Costello, M.J., 1998. BioMar biotope viewer: a guide to marine habitats, fauna and flora of Britain and Ireland. [CD-ROM] Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College, Dublin.

  4. Quero, J-C., Hureau, J-C., Karrer, C., Post, A. & Saldanha, L. (eds.), 1990. Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA) JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris.

  5. Whitehead, P.J.P., Bauchot, M.-L., Hureau, J.-C., Nielson, J. & Tortonese, E. 1986. Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Vol. I, II & III. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Datasets

  1. Environmental Records Information Centre North East, 2018. ERIC NE Combined dataset to 2017. Occurrence dataset: http://www.ericnortheast.org.ukl accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-38

  2. Fenwick, 2018. Aphotomarine. Occurrence dataset http://www.aphotomarine.com/index.html Accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-01

  3. Isle of Wight Local Records Centre, 2017. IOW Natural History & Archaeological Society Marine Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/7axhcw accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.

  4. Kent & Medway Biological Records Centre, 2017. Fish: Records for Kent. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/kd1utk accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.

  5. Merseyside BioBank., 2018. Merseyside BioBank (unverified). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/iou2ld accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.

  6. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  7. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-13

  8. South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, 2018. SEWBReC Fish (South East Wales). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/htsfiy accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02.

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Barnes, M.K.S. 2008. Chelidonichthys cuculus Red gurnard. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 13-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/83

Last Updated: 22/05/2008