| Prionotus carolinus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Triglidae |
| Genus: | Prionotus |
| Species: | P. carolinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Prionotus carolinus (Linnaeus, 1771) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Prionotus carolinus, the northern sea robin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Triglidae, the sea robins. This fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Taxonomy
Prionotus carolinus was first formally described in 1771 by the Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus as Trigla carolina with the type locality give as "Carolina". The specific name refers to the type locality.
Description
Prionotus carolinus can be identified by its broad spiny head, tapering body, blue eyes, and large, wing-like pectoral fins. The dorsal surface is reddish or grayish, the chin black, the belly pale and the fins reddish-brown with darker edges and paling to grayish-white at their bases. Three lower rays of the northern sea robin's pelvic fins are feelers used to "walk" along the bottom, so as to stir up bottom sediments to find food. Northern searobins grow to an average of 17 inches (43 cm) long.
Distribution and habitat
Prionotus carolinus is found in shallow seas of the western Atlantic where its range extends from Nova Scotia along the Atlantic coast of the United States into the Gulf of Mexico as far as the upper Florida Keys. They are found in estuaries to the edge of the continental shelf. They prefer the sandy bottoms of the waterbed, where they feed by kicking up sediment to find food, using their "legs".
Diet
Prionotus carolinus feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates, including shrimp, crabs, amphipods, squid, bivalve mollusks, and segmented worms. It has also been known to bite readily on any bait, suggesting a fairly non-selective feeding habit.
Uses
Prionotus carolinus are primarily fished for sport, as they put up a good fight when hooked. The spines make it difficult to clean them, but they have edible flesh that is comparable with kingcroaker or whiting and can be broiled and baked.
Other uses for the northern sea robin are processing into fish meal, pet food or fertiliser. They are also used for baiting lobster pots and handlines for catching flatfish. Their eggs have been used as a substitute for caviar.
References
- ^ Buddo, D. & Eschmeyer, W. (2015). "Prionotus carolinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T16779491A16782198. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T16779491A16782198.en. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Prionotus carolinus". FishBase. February 2022 version.
- Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Prionotus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (10 June 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 12): Suborder Triglioidei: Families Triglidae and Peristediidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "Northern Sea Robin". Environmental Data Center University of Rhode Island. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Willauer, P. (2002). "Prionotus carolinus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- Stephanie Boyd (November 2021). "Sea Robins". Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Prionotus carolinus | |