Thu Sep 26 15:05:55 UTC 2024: ## Sea Robins Taste Food With Their Legs, Scientists Discover

**Cambridge, MA** – Forget crab legs, sea robins are the real deal when it comes to unique taste sensations. Scientists have discovered that these bizarre fish, known for their six leg-like appendages used for walking on the seabed, have evolved the ability to taste with their legs.

Researchers from Harvard University and Stanford University conducted experiments where sea robins were presented with buried mussels and capsules containing seawater or mussel extract. The fish consistently dug up the mussels and the extract-filled capsules, but not the empty ones, indicating that taste, rather than touch, was guiding their behavior.

The study found that the sea robin’s legs are covered in small bumps called papillae, which contain cells sensitive to both taste and touch. Remarkably, the fish can detect the chemical signals of food diffusing through the sand up to four inches away, making them incredibly sensitive tasters.

“This is a fish that grew legs using the same genes that contribute to the development of our limbs and then repurposed these legs to find prey using the same genes our tongues use to taste food – pretty wild,” said Professor Nicholas Bellono of Harvard University.

The research team also investigated the genetic basis of this unique adaptation. They discovered a protein called tbx3a, previously known for its role in hind leg development in vertebrates, plays a key role in both the development of the papillae and the sea robin’s taste-driven digging behavior.

“Although many traits look new, they are usually built from genes and modules that have existed for a long time,” said Professor David Kingsley of Stanford University. “That’s how evolution works: by tinkering with old pieces to build new things.”

The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, shed light on the fascinating process of evolution and the incredible diversity of sensory adaptations found in nature. The discovery also raises the question: are there other creatures out there with unexpected sensory abilities waiting to be discovered?

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