Home · Batrachoididae · Reticulated toadfish
Reticulated toadfish (Daector reticulata) — Batrachoididae

Reticulated toadfish

Daector reticulata
VU · Vulnerable

The Reticulated toadfish (Daector reticulata) is a saltwater fish of the family Batrachoididae that grows up to 27 cm.

Length
27 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The reticulate toadfish is a toadfish of the family Batrachoididae from the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 27 cm and has a stocky body with a broad, flat head, a large mouth and a net-like pattern. It inhabits shallow coastal waters over soft bottoms. As a bottom ambush predator it often lies hidden and seizes small fishes and crustaceans. Both the gill-cover and dorsal spines bear venom glands; a sting gives a painful wound, so handle the fish with care. Owing to a restricted range the species is listed as Vulnerable (VU).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Reticulated toadfish?

The Reticulated toadfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Reticulated toadfish live?

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

How big does the Reticulated toadfish get?

The Reticulated toadfish grows to a maximum of about 27 cm.

Is the Reticulated toadfish dangerous to humans?

The Reticulated toadfish is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed.

Is the Reticulated toadfish edible?

The Reticulated toadfish is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Net-padvis sourced
English name
Reticulated toadfish verified
Scientific name
Daector reticulata
Family
Batrachoididae
Other names
Toadfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
27.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped 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
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
Not 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
Venomous / poisonous sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Daector

More from the family Batrachoididae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →