Can you identify this strange fish?

by David and Lin Schneider
(Los Organos, Peru)

Strange fish on Peru beach

Strange fish on Peru beach

We walked on the beach for a couple of hours today but not much beach glass showing.


However, we came across this strange orange/pinkish fish on the beach and wonder what it is?

Upon further research we identified this fish as
an armoured sea robin. Here's what we found:

Peristediidae is a family of fishes commonly known as armoured sea robins or armored gurnards. They belong to the order Scorpaeniformes, which also includes scorpionfishes, rockfishes, and other related families. Here are some key characteristics and features of Peristediidae:

Appearance: Peristediids are characterized by their robust bodies and heavily armored appearance. They have strong spines on their heads and bodies, which serve as protection against predators.

Habitat: These fishes are typically found in deep-sea habitats, often on soft bottoms or among rocks and coral reefs. They are distributed across various oceans worldwide, including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

Behavior: Armoured sea robins are benthic (bottom-dwelling) fishes, meaning they live and feed near or on the ocean floor. They use their pectoral fins to "walk" along the bottom, which is a distinctive behavior seen in some species of sea robins.

Diet: They are carnivorous and feed on small crustaceans, mollusks, and other benthic invertebrates.

The family Peristediidae includes several genera and species. Some notable genera within this family include Peristedion, Satyrichthys, and Neomerinthe.

Commercial Importance: Armoured sea robins are generally not targeted in commercial fisheries due to their deep-sea habitat and relatively small size. However, they are sometimes caught incidentally in trawl nets.

Overall, Peristediidae represents a unique group of fishes characterized by their armored appearance and specialized adaptations for life on the seabed in deep-sea environments.

Comments for Can you identify this strange fish?

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Robin fish
by: Molly Brown

It is a bearded-armored robin fish.
fish
by: Anonymous

a cross from a ray and a strogen
Diablico
by: Anonymous

These fish are pulled from drag boats are called Diablico in Paita Peru
Fish in Peru
by: Anonymous

If you spoke Spanish fluently perhaps you could have asked a local fisherman what the fish is called.

They usually have seen all types of fish in the area and can identify the ones that are unknown to people like us.

If you are a foreigner who does not speak Spanish, you can always contact a professional translator who can help you communicate with the Spanish-speaking community.

To learn more about our Spanish translation and interpretation services, please check out www.cacfti.com/spanish-translation-services.php
California Center for Translation & Interpretation
http://www.cacfti.com


Hi Anon,

Actually, I am Peruvian by birth and fluent in Spanish.

Unfortunately, there was no one around at the time we took the photos and I didn't want to hike back home with the fish.

I'll leave your contact info above for others. Thanks for the nice note!

David @ OdysseySeaGlass.com
Strange fish
by: Anonymous

Have you figured out what kind of fish it is.

Friends of mine caught one in Indonesia and they cannot identify it.

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