Fin's Fish Guide
The Banded toadfish (Torquigener pleurogramma) is a brackish-water fish of the family Tetraodontidae that grows up to 21 cm.
Description
The banded toadfish is a pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) from coastal and estuarine water of Australia. The species grows to about 21 cm and has a stocky, silver-grey body with a row of dark blotches along the flank and a silvery belly. It forms large schools over sand and mud bottoms of bays and estuaries and crushes small molluscs and crustaceans. When threatened it inflates. Its skin and organs can contain tetrodotoxin; eating it is dangerous.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Banded toadfish?
The Banded toadfish has a torpedo-shaped body. Bears venomous spines or tissue; handle with great care.
Where does the Banded toadfish live?
The Banded toadfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Oceania: Australia, Lord Howe I.
How big does the Banded toadfish get?
The Banded toadfish grows to a maximum of about 21 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. Do not eat: skin, viscera and gonads contain tetrodotoxin, a potent nerve poison with no antidote. If ingested with symptoms (tingling, muscle weakness, breathing difficulty): call emergency services immediately and support breathing.
Is the Banded toadfish edible?
The Banded toadfish is not usually eaten.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Torquigener
More from the family Tetraodontidae
Want the complete picture on the Banded toadfish?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Banded toadfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.