The gurnard (family Triglidae) is a bottom-dwelling sea fish with an armoured, bony head, fan-like pectoral fins, and a row of free finger-like feelers it uses to "walk" the seabed and taste for prey. Long sold cheaply as bait or fish-soup stock, its firm, sweet, white flesh — close in eating quality to red mullet or monkfish — has made it a prized, sustainable table fish.