Sea Robin
The northern sea robin (Prionotus carolinus) is named for its expanded pectoral fins that resemble bird wings. The first three fin rays separate from these wings during early sea robin development and can be used as 鈥渓egs鈥 to walk along the ocean floor. These 鈥渓egs鈥 have sensory capabilities that allow the fish to find food.
Sea robins have a distinctive 鈥渄rumming muscle鈥 that makes sounds by beating against its swim bladder.聽They often produce an audible croak like a frog when held out of water鈥攖his is where their other common name (the gurnard) comes from.
Type: Bony Fish
Habitat: Sandy ocean floors
Range: The Western Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to central Florida and the Gulf of Mexico
Size: about 17 inches long
Diet: Mollusks, crustaceans, and other bottom-dwelling prey
Status: Species of Least Concern
Resident and visiting researchers at the 小蓝视频 study sea robin 鈥渓egs鈥 to better understand how new limbs form during development and how novel forms of locomotion evolve in vertebrates.