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Grunting toadfish (Allenbatrachus grunniens) — Batrachoididae

Grunting toadfish

Allenbatrachus grunniens

The Grunting toadfish (Allenbatrachus grunniens) is a brackish-water fish of the family Batrachoididae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous

Description

The grunting toadfish is a toadfish (Batrachoididae) from coastal, brackish and fresh water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a stocky body with a broad, flattened head, a large mouth and skin flaps. As a bottom-dweller it shelters in holes, bank burrows and among roots and ambushes crustaceans, molluscs and small fish; it makes grunting sounds with its swim bladder. The dorsal and gill-cover spines carry venom and a sting is painful; handle with care.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Grunting toadfish?

The Grunting toadfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Grunting toadfish live?

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

How big does the Grunting toadfish get?

The Grunting toadfish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Grunting toadfish dangerous to humans?

The Grunting 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
Knorrende padvis sourced
English name
Grunting toadfish sourced
Scientific name
Allenbatrachus grunniens
Family
Batrachoididae
Other names
Frog fish; Frogfish; Grunting toadfish; Toadfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

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 verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Batrachoididae

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