Northern Searobin

Prionotus carolinus

Also known as: Carolina Searobin, Common Searobin, Grunt Fish, Gurnard, Flying Gurnard, Mother-in-law Fish, North American Searobin, Northern Gurnard, Sea Goblin, Web-fingered Gurnard

ALSO KNOWN AS

Carolina Searobin
Common Searobin
Grunt Fish
Gurnard
Flying Gurnard
Mother-in-law Fish
North American Searobin
Northern Gurnard
Sea Goblin
Web-fingered Gurnard

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015

Add a photo

Northern Searobin adult, photographed at Atlantic Beach, United States — @timhallahan · Atlantic Beach, United States · April 20191 / 3

Overview

Found singly, sometimes buried in the sand, or resting on shallow sandy bottoms, of bays and lagoons, more active at night when they use their Pectoral fins, like feet, to feel for invertebrates.
Juveniles found in estuaries.

Sea robins have heavily armoured, spiny heads. They have separate rays (like soft spines) on their bellies, near the Pectoral fins these spines act like legs, as the fish walks along the bottom of the ocean they use these spines to find crustaceans in the sand.
They also grunt. French term for the word Gurnard means to grunt.
They have poisonous spines on their backs.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: blotches spots
Behaviour: buries in sand makes sounds nocturnal solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Atlantic
Exact location · 1
Country only · 2

LIVES IN

Found singly, sometimes buried in the sand, or resting on shallow sandy bottoms, of bays and lagoons, more active at night when they use their Pectoral fins, like feet, to feel for invertebrates.

RANGE