A recent study discovered that sea robins use their legs to find food. These fish have six leg-like fins they use to move and search the sea floor. Scientists had thought these fins might have other functions. New research has confirmed this.
The study published in Current Biology, examined the sea robin’s unique abilities. Researchers placed individual sea robins into tanks with sand and water. They buried mussels, mussel extract capsules under the sand. The sea robins found the mussels and mussel extract capsules but ignored the seawater capsules. This showed that the fish can detect food by sensing chemicals.
Scientists found that nerves in the sea robins’ legs reacted to food-related chemicals like amino acids. The closer the prey was to the surface, the better the fish could find it. The sea robins legs also have small bumps similar to taste buds on a human tongue. These bumps help the fish to both touch and taste their surroundings.
Dr. Corey Allard from Harvard University said that these fish use their taste systems in a new way. Another species, Prionotus evolans, did not show the same behavior. This species could not find buried prey. It’s legs had no bumps or nerve reactions.
Researchers believe that sea robins legs were originally meant for moving. Over time, they developed new abilities. Like tasting chemicals in the sand. Scientists think studying sea robins will help us learn more about how new body parts evolve. Dr. Allard added that “these unusual fish can teach us things we can’t learn from animals like mice.”
