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Banded toadfish (Aphos porosus) — Batrachoididae

Banded toadfish

Aphos porosus
LC · Least Concern

The Banded toadfish (Aphos porosus) is a saltwater fish of the family Batrachoididae that grows up to 28 cm.

Length
28 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Chilean midshipman is a toadfish of the family Batrachoididae from the south-eastern Pacific off Chile and Peru. The species grows to about 28 cm and has an elongate body with a broad, flat head and a large mouth. It lives on soft bottoms of shallow coastal waters, where it often stays half-buried. As a bottom ambush predator it seizes small fishes and crustaceans. Toadfishes can make humming sounds with the swim bladder. The sharp head and fin spines can give painful puncture wounds, so handle the fish with care.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Banded toadfish?

The Banded toadfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Banded toadfish live?

The Banded toadfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Banded toadfish get?

The Banded toadfish grows to a maximum of about 28 cm.

Is the Banded toadfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Banded toadfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Banded toadfish edible?

The Banded toadfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Chileense lichtmatroos sourced
English name
Banded toadfish verified
Scientific name
Aphos porosus
Family
Batrachoididae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
28.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Batrachoididae

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