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Bluespotted toadfish (Omegophora cyanopunctata) — Tetraodontidae

Bluespotted toadfish

Omegophora cyanopunctata

The Bluespotted toadfish (Omegophora cyanopunctata) is a saltwater fish of the family Tetraodontidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Venomous / poisonous
Range
Oceania: Australia

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Description

The Bluespotted toadfish is a pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) from coastal waters of southwestern Australia. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a stocky, scaleless body with blue spots and lines on a brown ground; when threatened it inflates with water into a ball. With a strong beak-like jaw it crushes molluscs and crustaceans. Its organs contain deadly tetrodotoxin; the fish must not be eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluespotted toadfish?

The Bluespotted toadfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Bears venomous spines or tissue; handle with great care.

Where does the Bluespotted toadfish live?

The Bluespotted toadfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia

How big does the Bluespotted toadfish get?

The Bluespotted toadfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Bluespotted toadfish dangerous to humans?

The Bluespotted toadfish is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed. This fish contains tetrodotoxin, a powerful nerve poison with no antidote; do not eat it. After ingestion tingling, numbness, muscle weakness and breathing problems can develop within an hour. Call emergency services at once; prompt medical monitoring and breathing support are life-saving.

More photos

Bluespotted toadfish (Omegophora cyanopunctata) — Tetraodontidae — 2
B. Hutchins, Western Australian Museum (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Bluespotted toadfish (Omegophora cyanopunctata) — Tetraodontidae — 3
leonie_rennie (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Bluespotted toadfish (Omegophora cyanopunctata) — Tetraodontidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Peter Southwood (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Bluespotted toadfish (Omegophora cyanopunctata) — Tetraodontidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) chrisv78, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Bluespotted toadfish sourced
Scientific name
Omegophora cyanopunctata
Family
Tetraodontidae
Other names
Bluespotted pufferfish; Blue-spotted pufferfish; Bluespotted toadfish; Blue-spotted toadfish; Blue-spotted puffer verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
20 sourced
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Oceania: Australia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Bears venomous spines or tissue; handle with great care. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous verified
First aid
This fish contains tetrodotoxin, a powerful nerve poison with no antidote; do not eat it. After ingestion tingling, numbness, muscle weakness and breathing problems can develop within an hour. Call emergency services at once; prompt medical monitoring and breathing support are life-saving. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Omegophora

More from the family Tetraodontidae

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