Whitespotted Toadfish

Sanopus astrifer is a species of fish in the Batrachoididae family. It is endemic to Belize.

Description

Coloration is brown with white dots and stripes. It has flat and broadened head and barbells. Its eyes are located on the top of its head which look directly upwards as there is mostly no need for a horizontal vision. Small and sharp teeth also fill wide jaws. It has a total of eight fins; two dorsal fins, two pectoral fins, two pelvic fins, a caudal fin and an anal fin. The midline of the upper body contains the two dorsal fins; a short fin with sharp spines in 3 spots and a long fin which extends over much of the upper body and is flowing. Two rounded pectoral fins are found behind the head, and they are larger than two smaller pointed pelvic fins positioned right in front of the undersurface. Also on the undersurface, towards the rear, along the tip of the tail, the splendid toadfish has a small and rounded caudal fin.

Toadfish can make a load croaking noise with their swim bladders. Their mouth can open and expand to the width of their bodies to engulf large prey.

Distribution

Western Central Atlantic: Belize and Honduras.

Habitat

Found singly in caves and hollows, beneath corals and rocks over coral and rocky reefs. They feed on crustaceans, small fish, molluscs and worms.