This clip shows an Armour Gurnard (Family Triglidae), probably Satyrichthys, at a depth of 552 m, 40 km north-west of North West Cape, Western Australia. Thank you to Dr W. Richards for his help identifying the fish.
The fascinating aspect of this movie is that the barbels, which originate at the corners of the mouth, are extended in front of the fish as it moves across the sea bed. The sensory ability of the barbels is currently unknown.
The footage was shot in March 2005. It was taken by a Subsea 7 ROV working from the Transocean Jack Bates drilling rig. More information and larger versions of this movie can be found on the SERPENT website.
Richards, W.J. 1999. Triglidae. Gurnards, sea robins (also armoured gurnards, armoured sea robins). in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2006