Scientists aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research ship, the Okeanos Explorer, captured footage of a deep sea Armoured sea robin using its fin rays to take a stroll along the bottom of the ocean.
The fan-like fins on each side of the sea robin’s body behind the head (pectoral fins) have stiffened rays. The first few rays are free from the membranes of the rest of the fin and are very thick. The fish uses these thickened, stiff fin rays to ‘walk’ along the bottom. That is the usual form of locomotion for sea robins, instead of swimming like most other fishes explain the scientists.
Video of this deep sea resident was taken during a dive with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) at the Ta'u Unit of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.
Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 American Samoa.
You can watch live streaming videos of the researchers' dives and other footage on the Okeanos Explorer website.