Common toadfish

{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{speciesbox | name = Common toadfish | image = Common_Toadfish.jpg | image_caption = |status=LC |status_system=IUCN3.1 |status_ref=<ref>{{cite iucn|author1=Shao, K.|author2=Liu, M.|author3=Hardy, G.|author4=Jing, L.|author5=Leis, J.L.|author6=Matsuura, K.|year=2014|title=''Tetractenos hamiltoni''|article-number=e.T193784A2276476|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193784A2276476.en|access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref> | taxon = Tetractenos hamiltoni | authority = (J. Richardson, 1846) }} The '''common toadfish''' ('''''Tetractenos hamiltoni'''''), also known as the '''common toado''', '''toadfish''' or '''toado''',<ref name="afd"/> (formerly classified as '''''Tetrodon hamiltoni'''''<ref>[http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282945 World Register of Marine Species - Tetractenos hamiltoni (Richardson, 1846)], accessed 8 March 2010.</ref><ref name="hardy">G.S. Hardy, "Revision of Australian species of ''Torquigener'' Whitley (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), and two new generic names for Australian puffer fishes," ''Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand'', Volume 13, No. 1/2, 1983, pp. 1–48. [https://books.google.com/books?id=nLA4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1]</ref> or '''''Torquigener hamiltoni''''') is a species of fish in the family Tetraodontidae of order Tetraodontiformes, found along Australia's eastern coast, from northern Queensland to Flinders Island, and around Lord Howe Island,<ref name="afd">{{Cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Tetractenos_hamiltoni |title=Australian Faunal Directory: Tetractenos hamiltoni. |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005030634/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Tetractenos_hamiltoni |archive-date=2012-10-05 }}</ref> as well as in New Zealand waters. It often buries itself in sand with only its eyes exposed.<ref name="Fishbase">[http://www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?id=55042 Fishbase – Tetractenos hamiltoni], accessed 8 March 2010 ([http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Tetractenos+hamiltoni%22+fishbase find mirrors]).</ref>

The fish is sandy to whitish in colour, with small brown spots over most of the back and upper sides, and brown bars and blotches beneath.<ref name="AM">[http://australianmuseum.net.au/Common-Toadfish-Tetractenos-hamiltoni-Gray-Richardson-1843/ Australian Museum: Common Toadfish.]</ref> It has a maximum length of {{Convert|14|cm}}.<ref name="Fishbase"/> It is similar in appearance to the smooth toadfish, but has smaller spots and more prominent spines in the skin.<ref name="AM"/>

Like some other fish, the common toadfish is able to vary the amount of pigment in its cornea, which becomes yellow in colour under bright light.<ref>[http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/206/13/2177 Ulrike E. Siebeck, Shaun P. Collin, Majid Ghoddusi, and N. Justin Marshall, "Occlusable corneas in toadfishes: light transmission, movement and ultrastruture of pigment during light- and dark-adaptation," ''Journal of Experimental Biology'', Volume 206, 2177–2190 (2003).]</ref>

It is (rarely) used as an aquarium fish for brackish-water aquariums. Along with related toadfish species, it is known in Australia as a "toadie."{{Cn|date=October 2023}}

As with other fish of this family, the flesh is poisonous, due to tetrodotoxin, and eating the fish can have fatal consequences.<ref>[http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/177_11_021202/isb10423_fm.html Puffer fish poisoning: a potentially life-threatening condition], accessed 8 March 2010.</ref>

==See also== * Aquarium fishery * Smooth toadfish, ''Tetractenos glaber'' * List of brackish aquarium fish species

==References== {{Reflist}}

common toadfish Category:Fish of Lord Howe Island common toadfish