Northern Sea Robin

Prionotus carolinus

Image of a Northern sea robin held in a hand.
Image by ‘uconnbirdfish‘ on iNaturalist, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Physical: Sea Robin can measure from 12 to 16 inches in length. Their body is tapered that gets thinner towards the tail. It has spines located on the cheeks, neck, shoulders, and above the eyes. The Sea Robin is often misidentified as a “flying fish” for its wing-like pectoral fins.

Habitat: P. carolinus ranges from Nova Scotia to Florida. It is a bottom dweller residing in bays and inlets.

Feeding: Their diet consists of worms, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Breeding: P. carolinus spawn from late spring through the summer.  The female lays its eggs over a sandy area which hatch within 60 hours. The parents do not care for their young.

Connect with Us

Sign up for email or connect through social media.