Common Name
Cano Toadfish
Year Described
Günther, 1861
Identification
Dorsal Fin: II, 17-20
Anal Fin: 16-19
Pectoral Fin: 14-16
Pelvic Fin: I, 2-3
Vertebrae: 7 precaudal, 19-22 caudal
Dorsal spines (2) hollow and venomous. Pectoral fins with no discrete, pored venom glands. Head large and dorso-ventrally flattened. Lateral line distinct. Eyes relatively large.
Color
Body and head brown with numerous variably sized dark brown spots, becoming smaller ventrally. A dark irregular band often on the rear of the head between pectoral fins and another 1-2 posteriorly. Fins uniformly colored with no white margin.
Size
Maximum size to 150mm SL.
Habitat
Coastal to deep waters (to 200m). Benthic.
Range
Southern Caribbean: Colombia to Tobago, including offshore islands.
References
Collette, B.B. 1966. A review of the venomous toadfishes, subfamily Thalassophryninae. Copeia 1966(4): 846-864.
Collette, B.B. 2002. Batrachoididae (pp 1026-1042). In: Carpenter. 2002. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 2: Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae-Grammatidae). FAO Species Identification Guides for Fisheries Purposes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5.