Home · Batrachoididae · Pacific toadfish
Pacific toadfish (Batrachoides pacifici) — Batrachoididae

Pacific toadfish

Batrachoides pacifici
LC · Least Concern

The Pacific toadfish (Batrachoides pacifici) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Batrachoididae that grows up to 43 cm.

Length
43 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Pacific toadfish is a toadfish (family Batrachoididae) of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 43 cm and has an elongate body with a broad, flattened head, fleshy skin flaps and a mottled brown colour. It lives demersally on sand and mud bottoms of coastal waters and sometimes enters fresh water. Its diet consists of crustaceans and small fishes. Like other toadfishes the males produce sounds to attract females and guard the nest of eggs. The species is of modest commercial value and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pacific toadfish?

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

Where does the Pacific toadfish live?

The Pacific toadfish lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Pacific toadfish get?

The Pacific toadfish grows to a maximum of about 43 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Pacific toadfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Pacific toadfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Pacific toadfish edible?

The Pacific toadfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Pacifische padvis sourced
English name
Pacific toadfish verified
Scientific name
Batrachoides pacifici
Family
Batrachoididae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
43.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes 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

Same genus Batrachoides

More from the family Batrachoididae

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