Bighead Searobin

Prionotus tribulus

Also known as: Flying Gurnard, Gruntfish, Gurnard, Mother-in-Law Fish

ALSO KNOWN AS

Flying Gurnard
Gruntfish
Gurnard
Mother-in-Law Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015

Add a photo

Central Gulf Florida — Bighead Searobin adult, photographed at Florida, United States — @snorkelpuss · Florida, United States · April 20121 / 12

Overview

Found singly, on shallow sandy bottoms, sometimes buried in the sand, over bays, estuaries and lagoons. More active at night hunting for food, by using their lower spines of pectoral fin like feet too feel for their prey.
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: speckled
Body shape: feet
Behaviour: buries in sand nocturnal solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
Exact location · 2
Country only · 10

LIVES IN

Found singly, on shallow sandy bottoms, sometimes buried in the sand, over bays, estuaries and lagoons.

RANGE

Adult photos 12

Discussion 3

3 comments

Captain Michael· 24 Jan 2016
In Florida we call them Mother In Law fish as they look like your Mother In Law.l They eat shrimp and mullet baits.
Helpful· 1
Mike· 20 Feb 2013
These fish are aggressive. I caught one and had it in a livewell for a bit while I checked it out and it bit my finger pretty hard.
Helpful· 1
Becky· 16 Sept 2012
My brother caught one of these Big Head Robin fish at Padre Island Padre Tx.
Helpful· 1