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When the sea robin fish is swimming across the ocean floor their fins open and close much like the wings of a bird when it flies. This fascinating family of fish is divided into two sub families, Triglinae and Peristediinae, which in some cases there are researchers who consider to be separate families as well. The Triglinae have a large head that lacks scales but is covered by a bony plate which in some species contains strong spines. The body of this fish is somewhat flat but covered with scales with the top of the body appearing flat as well. They have two distinct dorsal fins with the first shorter than the second and bearing spines. More notable with the robin fish are the two distinct pectoral fins in which the lowest two or three rays are free of the fin skin. The pectoral fins can be moved independently of each other and have very long rays on the upper part that are almost in a wing like shape and appear to shine with a vast array of colors. The anal fin on the sea robin has one spine or in some species none at all and the pectoral fins in this area are small with a single spiny ray and five soft rays.
Some species of the robin fish are known to be very good swimmers even though they give the appearance of moving in a quite walking motion. This species has been observed migrating great distances during the spawning season. Food is detected by the free rays which also serve as sensory organs. Some species of this sub family of the sea robin are even considered one of the flying fish species since they use their tail musculature to make large leaps over the waters surface. In European areas this species can be found mostly on sandy bottoms although the a sometimes found on muddy, rock or other such surfaces. Sea robin fish feed on mussels, crustaceans and other shelled animals going to great depths to find the prey. The meat of this this fish is edible even though it tends to be somewhat dry and hard.
In the European part of the Atlantic the most prevalent species is the grey gurnard or Chelidonicthys gurnardus and the largest sea robin fish in this area is the sapphirine gurnard. During the fall months of the year the sapphirine gurnard will migrate far out into the Atlantic ocean. The grey gurnard can be observed during spawning season in April and August when the eggs can be found floating among the plankton for five days. When the young hatch they swim away to open water until they have matured enough to begin bottom dwelling as an adult.
The Peristediinae sub family of the sea robin fish can be distinguished by the spiny growth of bone that covers their entire body. This bony process protrudes from the snout like fingers and is occasionally found in some Triglinae sea robins. These sea robins are known to inhibit the deeper waters of temperate and tropical oceans going deeper than the Triglinae sea robins. They are most colorful and tend to swim as well as, if not better than other family members. One difference in the Peristediinae sea robins and the Triglinae sea robins is that their diet consist of shell-less organisms. These sea robins also tend to be more restricted to one area than others of their kind. The best known of this sub family in the Mediterranean is the armed gurnard or Peristedion cataphractus.
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