Juvenile grey gurnard on a muddy sea floor in Loch Linnhe
Gurnards are widespread, but my encounters with them have been rare and memorable. I occasionally see very young grey gurnards( Eutrigla gurnardus), but the only adults I have met more than fleetingly have been streaked gurnards( Chelidonichthys lastoviza), two on the west coast of Scotland and one recently in Cornwall. This species has the large bony head characteristic of all gurnards, but is distinguished by a much steeper forehead than others in the group. It can move in the wonderfully characteristic gurnard way, appearing to‘ walk’ across the seabed using separate rays of its pectoral fins, which feel for small prey buried in the sediment.
It could be my tendency to dive very shallow and rarely at night that makes my gurnard sightings so infrequent, but I also wonder whether it relates to the extensive use of sound by gurnards for communication. Does that make them very sensitive to bubble noise and is it perhaps divers using rebreathers that see them more?
My final species here is a newcomer that seems to be on the rise. The distinctive comber( Serranus cabrilla) is related to the groupers, and you can certainly see a family resemblance. For many years, combers were spotted occasionally in the Channel Islands before recently becoming established there. They are now regularly seen around the wider southwest with, for example, many sightings in the Plymouth area in the last year. �
Paul’ s photos and video clips capturing UK marine life stories are on Instagram @ paulnaylormarinephoto
Two transparent gobies with their silvery gas-filled swim bladder showing very clearly
Streaked gurnard showing the group’ s characteristic large bony head
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