Weeping toadfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weeping toadfish |
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Spheroides pleurogramma |
The weeping toadfish, also known as the blowie, is a special type of fish. Its scientific name is Torquigener pleurogramma. This fish lives in the ocean waters near Australia. It belongs to the Tetraodontidae family, which includes pufferfish. It's important to know that this fish is very poisonous if eaten.
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What Does the Weeping Toadfish Look Like?
The weeping toadfish can grow up to 22 cm (about 8.7 inches) long. It has a body that is long and thin. Its back is rounded, and its belly is flat.
Special Features of This Fish
This fish has a small mouth with thin lips. It also has a tiny chin. From its nose to about halfway down its body, it has strong, spiky spines.
Colors and Markings
The top part of the weeping toadfish is usually grey or green. It has lighter and darker dots all over it. You might also see dark bands on its body. Its chin is yellowish, and its belly is white.
A dark brown stripe runs along each side of the fish. This stripe goes from behind its front fins all the way to its tail fin. It also has several dark lines on its cheeks. These lines look a bit like tears, which is why it's called the "weeping" toadfish! If the light is very bright, its eyes can turn yellow.
How to Tell it Apart
The weeping toadfish can be confused with another fish called the orange-spotted toadfish. However, the weeping toadfish has much bigger spines. The orange-spotted toadfish is not found in Australian waters.
Where Does the Weeping Toadfish Live?
This fish lives in the coastal waters of Australia. You can find it in many places. On the east coast, it lives from Hervey Bay in Queensland down to Narooma in New South Wales. On the west coast, it lives from Adelaide up to Coral Bay. It also lives near Lord Howe Island. However, you won't find it near Tasmania.
Its Home in the Water
The weeping toadfish likes to live in shallow saltwater. It often gathers around jetties and piers. It can be found in water as deep as 27 meters (about 89 feet).
How They Live Together
During the summer, groups of these fish might form in deeper ocean waters. They may move from their usual homes in estuaries (where rivers meet the sea). Sometimes, large numbers of them might not survive during the autumn season.
Is the Weeping Toadfish Dangerous?
Yes, the weeping toadfish is dangerous because its meat is very poisonous. It's especially risky for pets if they eat this fish.
Sometimes, these fish are known to swim around divers in large groups. While they might approach divers, they cannot bite hard enough to cause big injuries.
