WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Western Frogfish

Batrachomoeus occidentalis

Also known as: Barbells, Frogfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@fishx6 · Police Pier, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, WA, Australia · March 20141 / 12
01

Overview

Found singly, on mud and sand bottoms, of estuaries and over off-shore trawling grounds. Variable in colour to match their surroundings.

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
blotches
Body shape
tassels

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 7
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found singly, on mud and sand bottoms, of estuaries and over off-shore trawling grounds.

04

Adult photos 12

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. genusBatrachomoeus
    7. speciesBatrachomoeus occidentalis Hutchins, 1976

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Toadfishes (Batrachoididae)