Anyone know what this is??

[lottie]

Hey y'all,
Just asking the question for someone else on another forum (not scuba related) and trying to figure out what it is.... ??

From some of the comments, this fish caused quite a commotion as it swam close to bathers; scary looking with clawed feet and coloured bumps; This thing has what looks like wings with claws at the end, is dark brown with blue raised spots and a large head and when you see it you do not want to get too close to it. When we saw it at Windjammer all it did was move slowly back and forward across the bay very close to the beach.
Fish was found in St Lucia, Caribbean.

Someone posted that they thought it was a flying granada (couldn't find what that is), but I was thinking maybe it was a gurnard of some form or another??

Anyone know??

[The Publisher]

Flying gurnard.

[lottie]

That looks too dark to be a flying gunard - the species of this out there is more of a sandy colour.....

[The Publisher]

They come in varying colors, and the pectoral fins are often not extended, but sweep rearwards as in your photo.

I have seen dozens and slightly different fin configs, so I am confident that is what your photo is.

[acelockco]

Looks like a dead duck.

[The Publisher]

Looks like a dead duck.

Lol....I suppose it does have wings like a duck.....

The other thing I noticed is the photo shows the high central front fin that they can elevate...

Here are a few dark ones:

[lottie]

Thanks guys.

Funny you should mention that Ace, I though it was a greater bulldog bat that had drowned...

[acelockco]

LOL....but I think The Pub is right in his initial thought.

[The Publisher]

Lottie, now all you need to do is tell the other person you were helping on another board that had they just been a member here....

[lottie]

Lottie, now all you need to do is tell the other person you were helping on another board that had they just been a member here....

ha, ha, ha.... anyway to drum up more business, eh?
Don't think that'll work as they're not hard-core geek divers like us