WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Oyster Toadfish

Opsanus tau

Also known as: Bar Dog, Barbells, Common Toadfish, Frogfish, Oyster Catcher, Oyster Cracker, Ugly Toad

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@bbonka · Maine, United States · October 20121 / 7
01

Overview

Found singly, often in shallow, polluted waters, amongst litter strewn and rocky areas, around jetties, reefs and wrecks.

Toadfish can make a load croaking noise with their swim bladders. They breathe air when out of water for up to 24hrs. Their mouth can open and expand to the width of their bodies to engulf large prey. Has poisonous spines.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
stripes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found singly, often in shallow, polluted waters, amongst litter strewn and rocky areas, around jetties, reefs and wrecks.

04

Adult photos 7

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderBatrachoidiformes
    5. familyBatrachoididae
    6. genusOpsanus
    7. speciesOpsanus tau (Linnaeus, 1766)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Toadfishes (Batrachoididae)