The northern sea robin uses its legs to find food in the seabed
Anik Grearson
A remarkable species of fish residing in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean has developed legs that serve a unique purpose beyond locomotion. These specialized appendages function as sensory organs akin to a tongue, enabling the fish to locate and capture buried prey within the ocean floor.
Known as northern sea robins (Prionotus carolinus), these creatures possess three legs on each side of their bodies, emerging from the base of their pectoral fins, originating from structures within the fins known as fin rays.
During a scientific expedition to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, led by Nicholas Bellono from Harvard University, the team encountered anecdotes highlighting the sea robins’ adept hunting abilities, prompting them to transport live specimens back to their research facility.
To their astonishment, the sea robins showcased exceptional skill in detecting and retrieving prey, including ground mussel extract and individual amino acids concealed within capsules, according to Bellono.
Subsequent analysis revealed distinct differences between sea robins that could locate buried prey and those that could not, manifesting in the form of specialized sensory papillae on the digging legs, a feature absent in their non-digging counterparts.
This evolutionary adaptation is controlled by an ancient regulatory gene named tbx3a, as identified by team member David Kingsley at Stanford University. Kingsley emphasizes the sea robin’s unique ability to modify existing anatomical structures for new functions, illustrating a fascinating example of evolutionary adaptation.
Vocabulary List:
- Anecdote /ˈæn.ɪk.doʊt/ (noun): A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
- Locomotion /ˌloʊ.kəˈmoʊ.ʃən/ (noun): The ability to move from one place to another.
- Sensory /ˈsɛn.sə.ri/ (adjective): Relating to sensation or the physical senses; transmitted or perceived by the senses.
- Adaptation /ˌæd.æpˈteɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.
- Retrieve /rɪˈtriːv/ (verb): To get or bring something back from somewhere.
- Regulatory /ˈrɛɡ.jʊ.lə.tɔːr.i/ (adjective): Concerned with the regulation or control of something.
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