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Banded toadfish (Marilyna pleurosticta) — Tetraodontidae

Banded toadfish

Marilyna pleurosticta

The Banded toadfish (Marilyna pleurosticta) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Tetraodontidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous

Description

The Banded toadfish is a pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) from shallow coastal and estuarine water of southern Australia. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a stocky, scaleless body with a brown pattern of spots and bars; when threatened it inflates with water into a ball. With a strong beak-like jaw it crushes molluscs and crustaceans. Its organs contain deadly tetrodotoxin; the fish must not be eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Banded toadfish?

The Banded toadfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Banded toadfish live?

The Banded toadfish lives in both fresh and salt water 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 12 cm.

Is the Banded toadfish dangerous to humans?

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

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Australische kogelvis sourced
English name
Banded toadfish sourced
Scientific name
Marilyna pleurosticta
Family
Tetraodontidae
Other names
Banded toado; Gold-finned toado verified

Appearance

Max length (cm)
12 sourced
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Tetraodontidae

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