Grey Gurnard

Head large without deep occipital groove. Vertebrae 37-39 (11-13 precaudal and 25-27 caudal).

The young are pelagic until attaining a length of 3 cm.

General migration towards the shore during summer, where it can enter estuaries.

Common on sandy grounds, sometimes on rocky bottoms, and also on mud between coastline to 140 m depth. Up to depth of 340 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Feeds on crustaceans, mostly shrimps and shore crabs; fishes, mostly gobies, flatfish, young herring and sand eels. Makes croaking sounds (Ref. 9987). Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten fried and baked (Ref. 9987).

fisheries: commercial