Home · Tetraodontidae · Cheek-barred toadfish
Cheek-barred toadfish (Torquigener hypselogeneion) — Tetraodontidae

Cheek-barred toadfish

Torquigener hypselogeneion
LC · Least Concern

The Cheek-barred toadfish (Torquigener hypselogeneion) is a brackish-water fish of the family Tetraodontidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
18.0–22.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The orange-spotted toadfish is a small pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a stocky, sand-coloured body with fine dots that camouflage it on the bottom. It lives in small, loose groups on shallow sand flats of coastal waters and in estuaries. With its beak-like fused jaw plates it crushes molluscs, crustaceans and worms. Like other puffers it can inflate itself with water, and its skin and organs can contain the poison tetrodotoxin; therefore do not eat this fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cheek-barred toadfish?

The Cheek-barred toadfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Cheek-barred toadfish live?

The Cheek-barred toadfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Cheek-barred toadfish get?

The Cheek-barred toadfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Cheek-barred toadfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Cheek-barred toadfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Cheek-barred toadfish edible?

The Cheek-barred 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
Estuarium-kogelvis sourced
English name
Cheek-barred toadfish verified
Scientific name
Torquigener hypselogeneion
Family
Tetraodontidae
Other names
Dwarf blaasop; Dwarf blowfish; Orange-spotted toadfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
18.0 verified
Max depth (m)
22.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Torquigener

More from the family Tetraodontidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →