• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Fish With Legs Uses Them To ‘taste’ Seabed For Prey, New Research Reveals‌
‌

Fish With Legs Uses Them To ‘taste’ Seabed For Prey, New Research Reveals‌ ‌

September 28, 2024
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Group Torches VA Dems Over Sanctuary Cities Ahead Of Primary Election

EXCLUSIVE: GOP Group Torches VA Dems Over Sanctuary Cities Ahead Of Primary Election

June 17, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: House Urges DOD To Get Serious About Vetting Defense Contractors

EXCLUSIVE: House Urges DOD To Get Serious About Vetting Defense Contractors

June 17, 2025
Mexico’s Gulf Cartel Continues Sending Gunmen to Steal Trucks In Texas

Mexico’s Gulf Cartel Continues Sending Gunmen to Steal Trucks In Texas

June 17, 2025
Mexican Cartels Increasingly Using Drones to Replace ‘Scouts’

Mexican Cartels Increasingly Using Drones to Replace ‘Scouts’

June 17, 2025
Family of Imprisoned Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Chapo’ Flees to U.S. for Protection from Cartels

Family of Imprisoned Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Chapo’ Flees to U.S. for Protection from Cartels

June 17, 2025
Three U.S. State Department Advisors Gunned Down at Taco Stand in Mexico

Three U.S. State Department Advisors Gunned Down at Taco Stand in Mexico

June 17, 2025
Two Major Mexican Cartels Merge to Form ‘Mega-Cartel’

Two Major Mexican Cartels Merge to Form ‘Mega-Cartel’

June 17, 2025
Cartel Gunmen Abduct Mexican Police Officer, Entire Family Just South of Texas Border

Cartel Gunmen Abduct Mexican Police Officer, Entire Family Just South of Texas Border

June 17, 2025
Se Sospecha que Sicarios Levantan a Policía Mexicano y a toda su Familia en Tamaulipas

Se Sospecha que Sicarios Levantan a Policía Mexicano y a toda su Familia en Tamaulipas

June 17, 2025
Asesores de Embajada de USA Asesinados En Taqueria de Jalisco

Asesores de Embajada de USA Asesinados En Taqueria de Jalisco

June 17, 2025
LARRY PROVOST: President Trump Stamps Out Calhoun’s Legacy Of Insurrection And Nullification

LARRY PROVOST: President Trump Stamps Out Calhoun’s Legacy Of Insurrection And Nullification

June 16, 2025
Trump Issues Ominous Warning To Iran

Trump Issues Ominous Warning To Iran

June 16, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home FaithTap

Fish With Legs Uses Them To ‘taste’ Seabed For Prey, New Research Reveals‌ ‌

by Zenger
September 28, 2024
in FaithTap, News, Wire
240 12
0
Fish With Legs Uses Them To ‘taste’ Seabed For Prey, New Research Reveals‌
‌
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter



<p>According to the research, their legs are sensory organs used to detect buried prey—such as mussels and other shellfish—while digging. MIKE JONES VIA SWNS.</p>
<p>“></p><div class='code-block code-block-3' style='margin: 8px auto; text-align: center; display: block; clear: both;'>
<script async src=

A fish with legs uses them to “taste” the seabed for prey, reveals new research.

Sea robins have the body of a fish, the wings of a bird, and six legs, similar to a crab.

Two new studies have revealed that the legs aren’t just used for walking on the seafloor.

According to research published in the journal Current Biology, they are sensory organs used to detect buried prey—such as mussels and other shellfish—while digging.

American scientists explained that the legs are actually extensions of their pectoral fins, of which there are three on each side.

Professor Nicholas Bellono of Harvard University said: “This is a fish that grew legs using the same genes that contribute to the development of our limbs and then repurposed these legs to find prey using the same genes our tongues use to taste food – pretty wild.”

Bellono, Professor David Kingsley of Stanford University, and their colleagues didn’t set out to study sea robins.

They came across the unusual species during a trip to the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

After learning that other fish follow the sea robins, apparently due to their ability to uncover buried prey, the researchers became intrigued and took some sea robins back to the lab to find out more.

They confirmed that the sea robins could indeed detect and uncover ground-up and filtered mussel extract and even single amino acids.

The team found that sea robins’ legs are covered in sensory papillae, each receiving dense innervation from touch-sensitive neurons.

The team found that sea robins’ legs are covered in sensory papillae, each receiving dense innervation from touch-sensitive neurons. ANIK GREARSON VIA SWNS.

They explained that the papillae also have taste receptors and show chemical sensitivity, which drives sea robins to dig.

Kingsley said: “We were originally struck by the legs that are shared by all sea robins and make them different from most other fish.

“We were surprised to see how much sea robins differ from each other in sensory structures found on the legs.

“The system thus displays multiple levels of evolutionary innovation from differences between sea robins and most other fish, differences between sea robin species, and differences in everything from structure and sensory organs to behavior.”

The research team confirmed that the papillae are a key evolutionary innovation that has allowed the sea robins to succeed on the seafloor in ways other species can’t.

The second study looked deeper into the genetic basis of the sea robin’s unique legs.

The research analyses identified an ancient and conserved transcription factor, tbx3a, as a major determinant of the sea robins’ sensory leg development. ANIK GREARSON VIA SWNS.

They used state-of-the-art genome sequencing, transcriptional profiling, and the study of hybrid species to understand the molecular and developmental basis for leg formation.

Their analyses identified an ancient and conserved transcription factor, called tbx3a, as a major determinant of the sea robins’ sensory leg development.

Genome editing confirmed that they depend on the regulatory gene to develop their legs normally.

The researchers explained that the same gene also plays a “critical” role in the formation of sea robins’ sensory papillae and their digging skills.

Kingsley added: “Although many traits look new, they are usually built from genes and modules that have existed for a long time.

“That’s how evolution works: by tinkering with old pieces to build new things.”

     

              Produced in association with SWNS Talker

              Tags: U.S. NewsZenger
              Share196Tweet123
              Zenger

              Zenger

              Advertisements

              Top Stories June 10th
              Top Stories June 7th
              Top Stories June 6th
              Top Stories June 3rd
              Top Stories May 30th
              Top Stories May 29th
              Top Stories May 24th
              Top Stories May 23rd
              Top Stories May 21st
              Top Stories May 17th

              Join Over 6M Subscribers

              We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





              IJR

                  Copyright © 2024 IJR

              Trusted Voices On All Sides

              • About Us
              • GDPR Privacy Policy
              • Terms of Service
              • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
              • Subscribe to IJR

              Follow Us

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In
              No Result
              View All Result
              • Politics
              • US News
              • Commentary
              • World News
              • Faith
              • Latest Polls

                  Copyright © 2024 IJR

              Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th