Devil sea robin facts for kids
The devil sea robin (scientific name: Lepidotrigla kishinouyi) is a fascinating type of fish. It lives in the ocean, usually near the bottom. It belongs to a family of fish called gurnards and sea robins.
Quick facts for kids Devil sea robin |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Triglidae |
| Genus: | Lepidotrigla |
| Species: |
L. kishinouyi
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| Binomial name | |
| Lepidotrigla kishinouyi Snyder, 1911
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Contents
Meet the Devil Sea Robin!
The devil sea robin is a special kind of ray-finned fish. This means its fins are supported by thin, bony rays. It's part of the Triglidae family, which includes other interesting fish like gurnards and sea robins. You can find this fish in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
What's in a Name?
Scientists gave the devil sea robin its official name, Lepidotrigla kishinouyi, in 1911. An American fish scientist named John Otterbein Snyder was the first to describe it. He found the first known fish of this kind in Kagoshima, Japan. The second part of its name, kishinouyi, honors Kamakichi Kishinouye. He was an important person who led the Imperial Fisheries Bureau of Japan.
What Does It Look Like?
The devil sea robin has some unique features. It has 8 or 9 pointy spines on its first dorsal fin (the fin on its back). Its second dorsal fin and the anal fin (on its underside) each have 14 to 16 soft rays. The pectoral fins, which are on its sides, have 14 soft rays.
This fish also has a pointy part on its nose, called a snout. This snout has one large outer spine and several smaller spines inside. A cool thing about this fish is the large, dark blue spot on the lower half of its inner pectoral fin. This spot has small whitish dots scattered on it. The devil sea robin can grow up to about 20 centimeters (almost 8 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
The devil sea robin lives in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It has been seen in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. You can find it from the Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan all the way south to the coastal waters of Taiwan.
This fish is a demersal fish. This means it lives near the bottom of the ocean. It likes areas with sandy and muddy ground. You can usually find it at depths between 40 and 140 meters (about 130 to 460 feet) underwater.
Is It in Danger?
Good news! Scientists at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) have looked at the devil sea robin. They say it is a "Least Concern" species. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
People don't usually try to catch this fish on purpose. However, it can sometimes be caught by accident. This happens when fishing boats are trying to catch other types of fish. This accidental catch is called bycatch. Scientists are not sure if this bycatch is a big problem for the devil sea robin. But because this fish lives in a wide area and in deep waters, fishing bycatch might not be a serious threat to it.
 | Victor J. Glover |
 | Yvonne Cagle |
 | Jeanette Epps |
 | Bernard A. Harris Jr. |
