Home · Peristediidae · Armored searobin
Armored searobin (Peristedion miniatum) — Peristediidae

Armored searobin

Peristedion miniatum
Family: Peristediidae
LC · Least Concern

The Armored searobin (Peristedion miniatum) is a saltwater fish of the family Peristediidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
64.0–910.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic; continental slope.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Armored searobin?

Get the app

Description

The armored searobin is a bottom fish of the armored searobin family (Peristediidae) from the western Atlantic. The species grows to about 30 cm and has an elongate, reddish body armoured with rows of bony plates, two long snout projections and, under the chin, a bundle of barbel-like appendages. It lives mostly on the continental slope, where it uses its barbels to search the soft bottom for small invertebrates. The stout bony armour provides protection against predators. Owing to its deep habits the species is rarely seen and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Armored searobin?

The Armored searobin has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern. Reddish body armoured with bony plates; chin barbels to feel the bottom.

Where does the Armored searobin live?

The Armored searobin lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Western Atlantic; continental slope.

How big does the Armored searobin get?

The Armored searobin grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Armored searobin dangerous to humans?

No, the Armored searobin is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Armored searobin edible?

The Armored searobin is not usually eaten.

More photos

Armored searobin (Peristedion miniatum) — Peristediidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Joe Kunkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Armored searobin (Peristedion miniatum) — Peristediidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — David Starr Jordan (Public domain)
Armored searobin (Peristedion miniatum) — Peristediidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Joe Kunkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Armored searobin (Peristedion miniatum) — Peristediidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) mwanaisha_musa, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Armored searobin?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Armored searobin is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Armored searobin verified
Scientific name
Peristedion miniatum
Family
Peristediidae
Other names
Searobin verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
64.0 verified
Max depth (m)
910.0 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic; continental slope. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small bottom-dwelling invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Reddish body armoured with bony plates; chin barbels to feel the bottom. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Peristedion

More from the family Peristediidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Armored searobin?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Armored searobin is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Armored searobin? Get the app