Toadfish

Toadfish is the common name for all fish in the family Batrachoididae, as well as some species in the families Tetraodontidae and Psychrolutidae. Certain species along the Gulf coast are called dogfish. Some toadfish species possess venomous spines. Like pufferfish, it must be prepared and cooked correctly to be edible.

Incredible Toadfish Facts

• Some fish in the Tetraodontidae family (pufferfish) contain tetrodotoxin, which is highly toxic.
• Sting treatment or first aid for these fish is similar to that of pufferfish.
• These fish are edible and surprisingly delicious when rendered safe to eat.
• Some toadfish, such as midshipman fish (genus Porichthys), have light-emitting cells (photophores).
• These fish are very vocal, and their calls can be heard underwater.
• The fish’s call is a buzzing sound like the horn of a ship.

Classification And Scientific Name

Toadfish is the common name for fish in the family Batrachoididae and some species in the families Tetraodontidae and Psychrolutidae. These fish are related to pufferfish, and some pufferfish are called toadfish, such as the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae. The common species (Tetractenos hamiltonii), also known as the common toado, or toado, and the smooth species (Tetractenos glaber) are both species in the family Tetraodontidae of order Tetraodontiformes. The oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) is of the family Batrachoididae. The word “dogfish” refers to the gulf or orange species (Opsanus beta), which is also called mudfish or oysterdog.

These fish are divided into three groups: true toadfishes, including the oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) in eastern North America; venomous species (Thalassophryne and Daector genus), found in Central and South America; and Midshipmen (Porichthys notatus), American fishes named for the rows of small, round light organs along their bodies.

Evolution And Origin

The toadfish has been described as a new genus from the mid Miocene era, about 23 million years ago. The main groups referred to as toadfish are the family Batrachoididae (true toadfish), with some species in the families Tetraodontidae (pufferfish) and Psychrolutidae (blobfish) also sometimes called toadfish.

Types Of Species

‘”True” toadfish are in the family Batrachoididae in the order Batrachoidiformes, with about 83 species grouped into 21 genera. The family Tetraodontidae (order Tetraodontiformes) has 196 species worldwide, grouped into 26 genera and 2 subfamilies, while Psychrolutidae has 40 species grouped into 9 genera.

Some examples of these fish species in the family Batrachoidinae are:

• Big-eyed toadfish (Thalassophryne megalops)
• Pacuma toadfish (Batrachoides surinamensis)
• Freshwater or grunting toadfish (Allenbatrachus grunniens)

Species in the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae are:

• The banded toadfish (Torquigener pleurogramma)
• The blackspotted toadfish (Arothron nigropunctatus)
• The common toadfish or toadfish (Tetractenos hamiltoni)
• The prickly toadfish (Contusus richei)
• The red striped toadfish (Tetraodon erythrotaenia)
• The smooth toadfish (Tetractenos glaber)

Fish in the blobfish family Psychrolutida, are:

• The dark toadfish (Neophrynichthys latus)
• The frilled toadfish (Ambophthalmos magnicirrus)
• The pale toadfish (Ambophthalmos angustus)

Appearance

True to their name, these fish look like toads. Plus, their swim bladders can create a sound like that of a toad. Their skin is scaleless and covered with mucus, with some species having spines within or protruding from the skin. Their coloring is usually drab, although there are exceptions. The gulf fish is light to dark orange, and the splendid or coral toadfish (Sanopus splendidus) has bright yellow fins with distinctive patterns and white and dark stripes on its head.

Physically, these fish are heavy-bodied with broad, flat heads and large mouths containing strong teeth and surrounded by barbels. They are either scaleless or have small scales. Many grow to a maximum of about 16 inches, although their length can range anywhere from 3 inches to 22 inches, common in the big-eyed (Thalassophryne megalops), to 12 inches, found in the freshwater or grunting toadfish (Allenbatrachus grunniens), to the 22 inches of the Pacuma toadfish (Batrachoides surinamensis).

A unique feature of midshipman fish (genus Porichthys), a type of toadfish, is the presence of numerous photophores (light-emitting cells) along their bodies. Most other toadfish species do not have photophores. They can have up to 700 of these specialized glands, thought to contain large numbers of luminescent bacteria, which possibly serve to attract prey and mates. Photophores are a common feature among the fish inhabiting the deepest and darkest levels of the sea.

Distribution, Population, And Habitat

Most species of this fish live close to the shoreline but remain close to the seabed, while others are purely bottom-dwelling. They are found worldwide, with most species being marine. Some live in brackish water, while the subfamily Thalassophryninae is exclusively in the freshwater habitats of South America. For example, Daector quadrizonatus and Thalassophryne amazonica are from the Atrato River in Colombia and the Amazon River, respectively.

The species Porichthys notatus, called Plainfin Midshipman, Humming Toadfish, or California Canary fish, has a habitat range from Alaska to the Gulf of California. The Pacuma toadfish (Batrachoides surinamensis) lives in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, specifically along the coasts from Honduras to Brazil. The Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus) lives along the Atlantic coast of Africa and the Mediterranean. Other species live in the Indian and Pacific oceans, such as the grunting toadfish (Allenbatrachus grunniens). Many species also live around Australia and New Zealand.

Predators And Prey

These fish are slow swimmers. They are benthic ambush predators, meaning they are bottom-dwelling and sit and wait to hunt their prey. They are carnivorous. When touched, they will sometimes bite.

What Do Toadfish Eat?

These fish eat seaworms, such as bloodworms. They also eat crustaceans, mollusks, and other fish.

What Eats Toadfish?

Dolphins are a major predator of these fish. Their calls alert each other. For example, the fish will decrease their mating calls by 50% to avoid alerting dolphins, while the dolphin’s “pop” sound alerts the fish to their nearby presence. Barracuda prey upon all species of these fish. Other potential predators are other marine mammals, sea turtles, and other fish.

Reproduction And Lifespan

These fish use their swim bladders to create noise, especially males who “sing” their mating calls. They are said to sound like the horn of a ship or a motorboat-like drone using a “music muscle” to vibrate against their swim bladders. There are two types of these fish. Type 1 are large, prepare and guard rock nests, and can produce the sustained humming needed to attract females, while Type 2 are meek males who cannot create the “love song” and sneak in to fertilize eggs.

During breeding, many toadfish species remain in shallow coastal waters. The female lays the eggs on the sticky top of the nest and then leaves. The eggs are large and hatch after one month, after which the male guards the nest while the fry remains attached and grows for three to four weeks. The fry hide behind the female until they are old enough to feed themselves.

In Fishing And Cooking

The venomous fishes of the genera Thalassophryne and Daector in Central and South America have hollow, venom-injecting spines, which sometimes people step on. Other species, like the gulf or orange toadfish, likewise have venomous spines. In pufferfish (family Tetraodontidae), the skin and ovaries can contain tetrodotoxin and must be properly prepared to be consumed. In true toadfish (family Batrachoididae), venom is found in spines, not in the flesh or organs.

In order to prepare properly, it must be steamed, skinned, and thoroughly cooked. Despite their repulsive appearance, however, these fish have a reputation for being delicious for people who are brave enough to cook or eat them.

Population

The IUCN lists most species of these fish as Least Concern. However, the splendid, Cozumel splendid or coral toadfish, native to the Caribbean island of Cozumel, is listed as Endangered due to hunting/trapping and pollution.