Searobin fish found walking sideways and backwards in South China Sea

Researchers have discovered that the searobin, a deep-sea fish known as Scalicus engyceros, is capable of walking sideways and backwards on the ocean floor. While some fish species are known to trot on the seabed, new footage captured in the northern South China Sea reveals this species uses specialized pectoral fins to move in directions previously unobserved in other fish.

Lead author Han Tian described the finding as a ‘paradigm-shifting revelation’. The fish, which can grow up to 10 inches long, possesses a unique appearance often referred to as a ‘fish-prawn hybrid’ due to its shrimp-like jerky movements and specialized fin rays. The study, published in Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research, notes that the creature uses its pectoral fins to navigate mud and sand, employing tail-driven swimming alongside its walking capabilities.