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How do the pelvic fins of cusk eels help them locate food near the seafloor?
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paracanthopterygian
Oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau).
Cusk eels, which belong to the family Ophidiidae, possess specialized pelvic fins located on their throat or under the lower jaw. These feeler-like fins act as sensory devices that the fish keeps in continuous probing motion as it swims just above the seafloor. By constantly moving these fins to touch and explore their surroundings, cusk eels are able to effectively locate food in their benthic environment.12