SUMMARY
Researchers have captured unprecedented footage of armored sea robins exhibiting a backward "moonwalking" motion along the seafloor of the South China Sea. Using underwater vehicles, scientists recorded three types of these fish, which possess specialized, stiffened fin rays that function like leg-like appendages. This unique movement, observed at depths between 1,151ft and 1,551ft, allows the fish to glide forwards, backwards, and laterally, with the fin rays probing the sediment for prey.
TAKEAWAYS
Armored sea robins were filmed "moonwalking" backwards on the seafloor.
The behavior was recorded by marine biologists in the South China Sea.
Specialized, stiffened fin rays enable the fish to walk and probe sediment.
This backward locomotion is a previously unobserved fish behavior.