View allAll Photos Tagged Toadfish
VIMS graduate student Diego Biston Vas took this color-enhanced image of an Oyster Toadfish with a Zeiss Microscope at VIMS' Fisheries Anatomy Lab.
The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, also known as the ugly toad or the oyster cracker, is a fish of the family Batrachoididae. The maximum length of the toadfish is about 38 cm; the most common recorded length of an oyster toadfish is about 30 cm. They are generally yellowish with a pattern of brown oblique bars.
The species can live in very bad conditions and needs little food to live. It is an omnivore. Common prey include crustaceans, mollusks, amphipods, squid, and other smaller fish. Toadfish rely upon camouflage to catch their food; they lie motionless waiting for prey to wander close by, then attack by surprise. They can be found anywhere from Maine to the Caribbean Sea.
The fish has a distinctive "foghorn" sound that is used by males to attract females in the mating season, which is April-October. Following the foghorn sound, the female comes into the nest, lays eggs, then leaves (the toadfish lays the largest eggs of any Chesapeake Bay fish). The male fertilizes the egg; they hatch after approximately one month. When the eggs hatch the young toadfish stay attached to the yolk for some time. When the yolk has been absorbed for energy, the young toadfish learn to swim. Even when the young have started to swim the adult still protects its young.
In 1997, NASA sent the Oyster toadfish into space to investigate the effects of microgravity on the development of otolithic organs.
Opsanus tau (TSN 164423). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 30 January 2006.
"Opsanus tau". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 10 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
[1] Hear the foghorn-like sound of the Oyster Toadfish. From [2]
[3] the NASA experiment
[4] more NASA
Artwork by George Coates
Also known as the Immaculate Puffer or Narrow-lined Toadfish, this species is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and South Africa to western Indonesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to northern Australia. It inhabits silt bottoms near coral reefs, shallow estuaries, mangroves and seagrass beds at depths ranging from 3 to 30 metres.
It is primarily carnivorous but feeds on seagrass and mangroves as well. It is typically solitary. Tetraodontids are characterized by a tough skin that is often covered with small spinulous scales and a beak-like dental plate divided by a median suture. They are capable of inflating their abdomens with water when frightened or disturbed.
Description source:
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
View the original image at the Queensland State Archives:
The gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) is not a sciaenid like the drum species that are noted for producing spawning sounds, but the males use a “boat whistle” sound, possibly to announce and protect territory, but also to attract spawning females.
"The reef system is home to more than 65 species of stony coral, 350 species of mollusk and more than 500 species of fish.[1][2] There are numerous species that live in or around the reef system that are endangered or under some degree of protection, including the following: sea turtles (green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, leatherback turtle, and the hawksbill turtle), the queen conch, the West Indian manatee, the splendid toadfish, the American crocodile, the Morelet's Crocodile, the Nassau grouper, elkhorn coral, and black coral.
The reef system is currently in the early stages of its greatest challenge to date....the invasion by the red lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles), which is native to the Indo-Pacific region.
Lionfish do great damage to the reef system by eating nearly every reef tending species, like cleaner shrimp and algae eating species that keep the corals clean, alive and disease free.
Lionfish eat up to 90% of the reef tending species in a given area within just a few months so reef death from lionfish can be quick.
Also, valuable commercial species, such as lobster, are being negatively affected by the spread of the lionfish due to the enormous appetite of the invasive lionfish.
The reef system is home to one of the world's largest populations of manatees, with an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 of them.[2]
Some northern areas of the reef system near Isla Contoy are home to the largest fish on the planet, the whale shark.[2] The normally solitary whale sharks congregate there in social groups to eat and to mate."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_Barrier_Reef_System#Bi...
Tetraodontidae is a family of primarily marine and estuarine fish. The family includes many familiar species which are variously called puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish, toadfish, and toadies.[1] They are morphologically similar to the closely related porcupinefish, which have large conspicuous spines (unlike the small, almost sandpaper-like spines of Tetraodontidae). The scientific name, Tetraodontidae, refers to the four large teeth, fused into an upper and lower plate, which are used for crushing the shells of crustaceans and mollusks, and red worms, their natural prey.
Puffer Fish are the second most poisonous vertebrate in the world, the first being a Golden Poison Frog.
Die Körperform von Kugelfischen weicht stark von der typischen Fischgestalt ab, er hat eine rundliche, gedrungene Gestalt, Kopf und Augen sind stark ausgebildet. Der schnabelähnliche Beißapparat besteht aus zu Zahnleisten verwachsenen Zähnen, wobei je zwei Zahnleisten oben und unten stehen. Hierauf bezieht sich auch die wissenschaftliche Namensgebung dieser Familie hochentwickelter Knochenfische: Tetraodontidae = Vierzähner. Ihre lederartige, widerstandsfähige Haut ist nackt, die Schuppen sind auf kurze Stacheln reduziert.
Der Antrieb erfolgt überwiegend durch die Brustflossen, Rückenflosse und Afterflosse schwirren nur zur Unterstützung mit. Schwanzstiel und Schwanzflosse dienen als Steuerruder. Dadurch ist der Kugelfisch zwar recht langsam, aber äußerst wendig, er kann sowohl vorwärts als auch rückwärts schwimmen und aufwärts und abwärts steigen. Eine Besonderheit bei den Kugelfischen ist, dass sie keine Bauchflossen besitzen.
Kugelfische können sich bei Gefahr aufpumpen, indem eine kräftige Muskulatur ruckweise Wasser aus der Mundhöhle in eine bauchseitige, sackartige Erweiterung des Magens presst. Dies soll auf Angreifer abschreckend wirken. Starke Ringmuskeln am Übergang zum Magen und Mageneingang verhindern das Rückfließen des Wassers. Die Stacheln, die sonst eng am Körper anliegen, stehen nun nach außen und fungieren als eine Art Widerhaken. Dadurch und durch die enorme Volumenvergrößerung ist es einem Raubtier fast unmöglich, den Kugelfisch zu verschlingen. Werden Kugelfische durch Menschen gezielt zum aufblasen provoziert ist dies mit großem Streß verbunden und das Tier kann daran sogar sterben.
Hundreds of friends and family members of the late Christina Gladney Hemighaus gathered at the Toad Fish Bar & Grill on Saturday to begin raising money to fund a scholarship in the former Hopewell Crest teacher's memory. The goal is to raise $25,000 to create a $1,000 a year scholarship for a local student who will attend Rowan University and major in elementary education. The fund-raising is an ongoing project and anyone who was not able to attend is encouraged to call Chrissy's mother, Debby Atkinson, at 609-381-4144 for further information. If you would prefer to simply make a donation, please make a check to "Rowan University Fund," note "Chrissy Hemighaus Scholarship" on the comment line, and mail it to Atkinson at 72 Atkinson Road, Bridgeton, NJ, 08302. Monday, September 10, would have been Chrissy's 39th birthday.
Shown in the photo above are (standing, from left) Amanda Gladney, Chrissy's sister; Debby Atkinson, mother; Frank Atkinson, step-father; Gabe Hemighaus, son; Rick Gladney, father; Karen Gladney, step-mother; Rick Gladney, Jr., brother; and Danielle Meyers, organizing committee member. Seated in front with a picture of Chrissy are (from left) Samantha Gladney, sister; Jake Hemighaus, son; Ava Gladney, niece; and Madison Gladney, sister.
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Camera Nikon D300
Lens Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 23 mm
ISO Speed 400
I used the large Better Bounce Card from Peter Gregg. I think it gave quite even coverage for a 23mm shot. I feel bad that I couldn't do a head swap for the young girl on the right, but this was actually her best shot. I don't think she wanted to be in the picture...
The sky is washed out because it was washed out. It was actually overcast lightly drizzling when I took this picture.
Under the Aquaculture pier - lots of oyster and scallop shells from their operations are a magnet for black sea bass, cunner, tautog and oyster toadfish. Counted over a 100 black sea bass during a very short dive.
I'm looking for help identifying this one completely. The photo was taken at night in very shallow water (but subtidal). I'm not sure of the size - maybe 25 to 30 cm. The location was the Sapodilla cayes in Belize.
No luck at Fishbase or scanning Google photos. Can't quite pick a choice in Humann and Deloach. I have tried online keys, but they require access to a specimen and knowledge of things like brachiostegal photophores.
I'm pretty sure this is in the Batrachoididae family.
Splendid Toadfish seen while night diving at Paradise on Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico in February 2022. Toadfish are very rarely seen out swimming in the open. They prefer to hide in nooks and crannies in the reef and ambush their prey.
This hungry Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) took a kids lure as he was reeling it in whilst fishing. Wonga Beach - Far North Queensland - Australia
Whitehill Reef, Destin FL
Great panhandle dive, natural limestone reef in 85' of water covered in very cool critters. Spot the hiding toadfish :)
Black-spotted toadfish- blind eye
Arothron nigropunctatus
TEDX OIST talk by Shawn Miller www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6FWCyVQcNA
Location: Maeda point - Okinawa Japan
Depth: 30 feet on reef at night
Camera: Nikon D90 105 macro x 2 ikelite strobes.
Also known as Toadfishes, Blowfishes, Stellate Puffer, Starry Pufferfish, Starry Puffer, Star Puffer, Starry Toby, Starry Toadfish, Starry Blowfish and Giant Pufferfish.
Found singly in lagoons, inner and outer reefs, sometimes swimming high above the reef.
Juveniles have zebra stripes, changing to spots and blotches that as they grow the spots become smaller, found over sand and weedy areas of estuaries and inshore silty waters.
They feed on crustaceans, sea urchins, sponges, coral and algae.
These are the largest Pufferfish.
Length - 1m
Depth - 3-60m
Widespread Indo-Pacific
The bodies of Pufferfish are covered in a toxic mucus, if the skin or flesh is consumed it can be fatal to humans.
When threatened they will puff up like a football to deter predators.
Dauin, Dumaguete, Philippines
TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned or Bony Fishes)
Order: Batrachoidformes (Only family is below)
Family: Batrachoididae (Toadfishes)
Genus/species: Porichthys notatus
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Toadfishes have large flattened heads and tapered bodies and are the only family in the order. The humming toadfish (aka plainfin midshipman) is scaleless with four lateral lines and eyes high on a large head with a large mouth. The toadfish can be up to 30 cm (1 ft) long; the dorsal fin holds a mild poison. The toadfish possesses photophores (light organs), which are arranged on the underside of the head in a U-shape and are used primarily to attract prey.
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT Found from Alaska to the Gulf of California. Its habitat ranges from intertidal areas to deeper water over sand and mud bottoms. The toadfish returns to shallow intertidal waters to reproduce and is seasonally common in San
Francisco, Suisun, and San Pablo Bays.
DIET IN THE WILD Omnivore: eats worms, crustaceans, mollusks and other fish. Hides in rock crevices among bottom vegetation, or digs dens in bottom sediments to ambush prey. Diet provides the ingredients for fluorescence.
PREDATORS They are prey for seals and sea lions.
REPRODUCTION After building and guarding a nest of rocks, the male entices females by humming his “love song,” a loud sound produced by vibrating a set of sonic muscles on its air bladder 6,000
times a minute for more than an hour at a time. The female chooses her mate, deposits her eggs in the nest, and the male fertilizes and guards them. Males try to attract several females to the same nest.
CONSERVATION Toadfish are not endangered though they are taken by local fishermen as a food fish and by trawlers as a source of fish meal and oil. They are prey for seals and sea lions.
REMARKS For many years Sausalito CA residents complained of an annoying noise that kept them awake at night during the summer months. The cause was uncertain, but theories were rampant: underwater surveillance equipment, secret weapons testing, extraterrestrial intrusions were all put forth. Then in the early 1990s the Academy’s Senior Curator and then Director of Steinhart Aquarium, John McCosker, investigated and ultimately reassured irritated residents that the sound had no destructive intent, only a reproductive one.
The remarkable endurance of the toadfish’s sonic muscles are the subject of on-going research and may lead to clues to fighting human muscle disease as well as general insights into muscle structure and function.
Water planet Senses Cluster Sound WP40
7-1-13
7-11-14
Icthy. cart 2013-2017
An old friend of mine :) - he never left his home and greeted me on the same spot every time we went diving to Cozumel in the last few years.
This site is part of a study by Dr. David Kimbro on predator-prey relationships in the oyster reef habitat. He is studying the beneficial effects predators such as blue crabs and toadfish can have on the oyster by regulating populations of the animals that consume oysters, mainly mud crabs and oyster drill snails.
for more in formation, visit:
this cute lil critter came up to say g,day whilst on our evening walk around the ala-wai canal in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii.....in Australia we would call it a toad fish or a toadie
The winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, (also known as black back) is a right-eyed ("dextral") flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. It is native to coastal waters of the western north Atlantic coast, from Labrador, Canada to Georgia, United States. In the waters from Newfoundland down through Massachusetts Bay it is the most common near-shore (shallow-water) flounder. It grows up to 64 cm in length and 3.6 kg in weight.
It spends the summer off shore in deeper waters, and winters in shallow coastal estuaries rivers and bays.
Winter flounders are highly regarded for their delicious white meat. They are sometimes called lemon sole in the U.S.
They can be differentiated from summer flounder because they almost always have eyes on the right side of their bodies. They also do not have teeth. Summer flounder have their eyes on the left side of their bodies, and do have teeth.
The name ‘winter’ flounder refers to its annual spawning migrations into nearshore waters in winter. Adult winter flounder migrations consist of two phases; an autumn estuarine immigration prior to spawning, and a late spring/summer movement to either deeper, cooler portions of estuaries or to offshore areas after spawning. This pattern of seasonal distribution may change in the colder waters of the northern extent of the flounder’s range where it migrates to shallow water in the summer and deeper waters in the winter. The annual spawning period for winter flounder varies over its geographic range. Although spawning periods overlap considerably, peak spawning times are earlier in southern locations.
During spawning, females release eggs whose properties facilitate retention within spawning grounds. A number of factors influence larval and juvenile growth and survival, including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and food availability. Nursery habitat for winter flounder larvae and juveniles is typically saltwater coves, coastal salt ponds, and estuaries although larvae and juveniles have also been found in open ocean areas. Larvae are predominantly found in the upper reaches of natal estuaries in early spring, moving into the lower estuary later in the season.
Sources of natural mortality for winter flounder include predation, parasites, disease, and competition. Predatory fish such as striped bass, bluefish, toadfish, and summer flounder, as well as birds, invertebrates, and marine mammals prey on larvae and juveniles. Atlantic cod, spiny dogfish, goosefish, and winter skate are the main predators of adult winter flounder. Little skate, smooth dogfish, hakes, sea raven, striped sea robin, striped bass, bluefish, and wrymouth also consume adult winter flounder in smaller amounts.
Winter flounder diet is limited by their small mouth size. Adults feed mostly on small invertebrates, shrimp, clams, and worms. Feeding occurs solely during the day because winter flounder depend on sight to locate prey, and intensifies during ebbing and flooding tides. At night, winter flounder lie flat with their eye turrets retracted until sunrise.
New York Aquarium Coney Island NY
A small fish coming into the mangroves on the incoming tide; taken with the 300mm lens from the boardwalk at Boondal Wetlands. These are very poisonous I gather; see Tetractenos hamiltoni
The rest of the world calls this type of fish a Toadfish.
I think they are nocturnal and normally hide in a burrow or under a ledge during the day. This one was obviously allowed out for some exercise, which is how we spotted him.
This oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) washed up near Buckroe Beach. Oyster toadfish are a native near-shore fish species. They resemble snakeheads but can be distinguished by their rounded teeth, broader head, fleshy cheeks, and the position of the eyes atop the head. Oyster toads are common in the Bay, using their strong, blunt teeth and powerful jaw muscles to feed on crabs and other crustaceans. Photo submitted by Jim Robinson.
She carried it around and tossed it several times, but sadly the fish was eventually stolen from her by a male Hooded Merganser. In explore, Dec 12 # 239. Thank you!!
Diving with Octopus Diving at Turtle Reef in Baie de Grand Case.
Turtle Reef
Location: Two minutes from our dive shop in Grand Case Bay – not marked on most GPS systems.
Access: Boat
Depth: 8-30 feet (2-10 meters)
Type: Reef
Look for: Hawksbill and green turtles, fan corals, an abundance of fish, flying gurnards, eagle rays, sting rays, jawfish, sailfin blennies, remoras, toadfish, frogfish, and octopus.
Description
Also named as the second of our “Local Reefs” Turtle Reef never ceases to amaze us and in our opinion has the most marine bio-diversity of any reef on St. Martin. Diveable in nearly all conditions its rare not to see turtles. The most turtles seen in one 60 minute dive was 15. Two large pinnacles of rock surrounded by sand produce a very healthy eco-system where small and large marine life thrive. The abundance of fish at this site is truly outstanding. This site is suitable for any level diver from discover scuba, open water certification or course director. Make sure you dive this site whilst in St.Martin, 30 foot/10 meter depth means 60 – 70 minute bottom times.