Common toadfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Tetractenos
Species:
T. hamiltoni
Binomial name
Tetractenos hamiltoni

The common toadfish (Tetractenos hamiltoni), also known as the common toado, toadfish or toado,[2] (formerly classified as Tetrodon hamiltoni[3][4] or Torquigener hamiltoni) is a species of fish in the family Tetraodontidae of order Tetraodontiformes, found along Australia's eastern coast, from northern Queensland to Flinders Island, and around Lord Howe Island,[2] as well as in New Zealand waters. It often buries itself in sand with only its eyes exposed.[5]

The fish is sandy to whitish in colour, with small brown spots over most of the back and upper sides, and brown bars and blotches beneath.[6] It has a maximum length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in).[5] It is similar in appearance to the smooth toadfish, but has smaller spots and more prominent spines in the skin.[6]

Like some other fish, the common toadfish is able to vary the amount of pigment in its cornea, which becomes yellow in colour under bright light.[7]

It is (rarely) used as an aquarium fish for brackish-water aquariums. Along with related toadfish species, it is known in Australia as a "toadie."

As with other fish of this family, the flesh is poisonous, due to tetrodotoxin, and eating the fish can have fatal consequences.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shao, K.; Liu, M.; Hardy, G.; Jing, L.; Leis, J.L.; Matsuura, K. (2014). "Tetractenos hamiltoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T193784A2276476. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193784A2276476.en. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Australian Faunal Directory: Tetractenos hamiltoni". Archived from the original on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
  3. ↑ World Register of Marine Species - Tetractenos hamiltoni (Richardson, 1846), accessed 8 March 2010.
  4. ↑ G.S. Hardy, "Revision of Australian species of Torquigener Whitley (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), and two new generic names for Australian puffer fishes," Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 13, No. 1/2, 1983, pp. 1–48.
  5. 1 2 Fishbase – Tetractenos hamiltoni, accessed 8 March 2010 (find mirrors).
  6. 1 2 Australian Museum: Common Toadfish.
  7. ↑ Ulrike E. Siebeck, Shaun P. Collin, Majid Ghoddusi, and N. Justin Marshall, "Occlusable corneas in toadfishes: light transmission, movement and ultrastruture of pigment during light- and dark-adaptation," Journal of Experimental Biology, Volume 206, 2177–2190 (2003).
  8. ↑ Puffer fish poisoning: a potentially life-threatening condition, accessed 8 March 2010.


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