Helmet Gurnard
Dactyloptena orientalis
This fish is generally solitary and found all over Polynesia, but rarely observed.
Photo: Bernard Dupont
Dactyloptena orientalis
It frequents the sandy-detritic zones of the exterior slope, and eats small fish and invertebrates.
Photo: Rickard Zerpe
Tahitian names
Apa apa au ai
Interesting facts
This fish is generally solitary and found all over Polynesia, but rarely observed. It stands out because of its hypertrophied fins that look like wings highlighted with numerous ocelli. It deploys them in case of alert and reveals its dorsal spines. It frequents the sandy-detritic zones of the exterior slope, and eats small fish and invertebrates.
sources & credits
- Guide des poissons de Tahiti et ses îles, Indo-Pacific Fish conference Tahiti 2017, P. Bachet, T. Zysman, Y. Lefèvre, Au vent des îles
- DORIS - Dactyloptena orientalis
- FishBase - Dactyloptena orientalis