Reicheltia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Reicheltia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Tetraodontiformes
Family:	Tetraodontidae
Genus:	Reicheltia Hardy, 1982
Species:	R. halsteadi
Binomial name
Reicheltia halsteadi (Whitley, 1957)
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The Reicheltia halsteadi, also known as Halstead's toadfish, is a special type of pufferfish. It is found only in Australia. This fish can grow up to 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. It is the only known member of its group, called the genus Reicheltia.

What Does Halstead's Toadfish Look Like?

Halstead's toadfish is unique because it's the only species in its group of pufferfish. It has a long body that is rounded on top and flat underneath. Its body gets narrower towards its tail.

Body Features

• It has a small mouth at the very front, without a chin.
• It does not have grinding teeth.
• Its side fins (pectoral fins) are rounded and start below its eyes.
• Its nose has two small openings that are almost the same size.
• Its eyes are round and of medium size.
• Its lips are a bit thick and covered with many small bumps.
• It has spines only on its neck and belly.

Colors and Patterns

The color of Halstead's toadfish can change.

• Its back is usually a pale yellowish-green with many irregular light brown or reddish-brown spots.
• It has dark brown bands across its back: one at the eyes, one between the eyes and the side fins, one just behind the side fins, and one at the tail fin base.
• The brown spots and yellow-green color continue to the middle of its sides.
• These colors then change to small, shiny silver-grey flecks that slowly blend into its white belly.
• Its cheeks and lower sides have a shiny silver-grey look.
• The spiny part of its belly is white.
• All its fins are pale, and there is a reddish-brown patch on the front of where its side fins attach.

Where Do Halstead's Toadfish Live?

Halstead's toadfish lives in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, along the coast of Australia. You can find them from Queensland down to New South Wales. They live in water that is 1 to 80 meters (about 3 to 260 feet) deep.

Halstead's toadfish range

Habitat and Behavior

Halstead's toadfish is a bottom-dwelling marine fish. This means it lives near the ocean floor.

• They are usually found on sandy areas just past the rough waves near beaches.
• They can also be found in calm, sheltered bays.
• Young toadfish sometimes swim in small groups over sandy bottoms.
• This fish does not seem to be very common in the areas where it lives.

What Do Halstead's Toadfish Eat?

Scientists have not studied the eating habits of Halstead's toadfish very much. However, other similar pufferfish that live on the bottom of the ocean usually eat mostly algae (like seaweed) and small invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without backbones.

Common Foods

• Their diet often includes small crustaceans, like crabs or shrimp.
• They also eat mollusks, such as snails or clams.
• If there isn't much food around, they can survive by eating only plants.
• But they prefer to eat a mix of both plants and small animals.

Is Halstead's Toadfish Poisonous?

The muscles of Halstead's toadfish contain very little of a toxin called tetrodotoxin. This means they are considered harmless to humans. Many types of pufferfish have this toxin. They get it from special bacteria that are part of their diet.