Dactylopterus volitans; Print; The flying gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans); also known as the helmet gurnard; is a bottom-dwelling fish of tropical to warm temperate waters on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. On the American side; it is found as far north as Massachusetts (exceptionally as far as Canada) and as far south as Argentina; including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. On the European and African side; it ranges from the English Channel to Angola; including the Mediterranean. This is the only species in the monotypic genus Dactylopterus. Similar and related species from the genus Dactyloptena are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.; 1700-1880