Family Batrachoididae

by. Nolvyhindarto,S.Si_Encartablog_Animals

Toadfishes

Selected Characters: First dorsal fin small with 2-4 spines,
second dorsal long and soft-rayed; anal fin long, soft-rayed; pelvic
fins jugular; opercular spine; photophores present in our species.

class="Normal_0020_0028Web_0029__Char" style=" text-decoration: none">Toadfishes are found in temperate and tropical waters. Most are marine
but some species live in fresh or brackish water. These tend to be sluggish
bottom-dwellers. Some members of the family have venom glands
associated with their dorsal spines. There are 69 species in this family,
only one of which occurs in Puget Sound. Our Plainfin Midshipman typically
lives on sandy or muddy substrate near the shore. It lacks venom glands,
but belongs to one of the only shallow-water fish genera that has photophores.
This fish possesses a gasbladder which it uses to produce humming, grunting
and growling noises, leading to the alternative common name "singing
fish." Around Puget Sound this species is also commonly called
"bullhead." This fish has very interesting reproductive behavior:
the female, attracted by a male's humming, typically deposits several
hundred eggs in a nest the male created under a rock. The eggs are guarded
during development by this large, fasting 'parental' male. There are
also small 'sneaker' males who superficially resemble females. Sneaker
males never defend nests but approach a spawning pair and attempt to
fertilize some of the eggs before being chased off by the resident male.
Plainfin Midshipmen feed on other fishes and crustaceans, and are in
turn eaten by seals, sea lions and birds. This fish is common in Puget
Sound.

Species

Porichthys notatus Plainfin Midshipman

Retrieved from:” http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/ichthyology”