Madeira Canary Islands Azores – Fishes Dr. Peter Wirtz

Canary-scorpionfish (Scorpaena canariensis)
Up to 25 cm long. Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores. 2 – 800 m depth.
In contrast to the quite similar looking S. maderensis, this species does not have small black spots on the
body. Photo Peter Wirtz.
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Gurnards (Triglidae)
Streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza)
Up to 40 cm long. Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores. 5 – 150 m depth.
The first two to three pectoral rays of gurnards are freely moveable like fingers. Gurnards use them to crawl
over sandy or muddy bottom and to feel for prey. There are taste buds on the tips of these fin rays so that the
animals can immediately taste what they touch. The German name “Knurrhahn” comes from the animal’s
ability to produce grunting noises. When the Streaked gurnard feels threatened it spreads its large,
conspicuously blue-spotted and blue-rimmed pectoral fins. It is by far the most common gurnard species in
our area and can also be encountered over gravel bottoms. Photos Peter Wirtz.
Longfin gurnard (Chelidonichthys obscura)
Up to 35 cm long. Madeira, Canary Islands. 5 – 170 m depth.
In theory, this species can easily be recognized by the very long second dorsal fin ray. However, the dorsal fin
is usually folded against the body, so that the elongated fin ray cannot be seen. The Longfin gurnard is much