Silver Toadfish, Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789)

Scientific name: Lagocephalus sceleratus
Alternative name/s:
Giant Toadfish, Giant Toado, North-west Blowfish, Silver Pufferfish, Silver-checked Toadfish, Silver-stripe Pufferfish
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    21/01/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Silver Toadfish, Lagocephalus sceleratus Click to enlarge image
A Silver Toadfish caught on hook and line by Lew Reynolds at a depth of about 13 m (bottom depth 16 m), off the Blue Pool, Bermagui, New South Wales, April 2004. Image: Lew Reynolds
© Lew Reynolds

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Lagocephalus
    Species
    sceleratus
    Family
    Tetraodontidae
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 97 cm in length.

The species can be recognised by the silver stripe along the sides of the body and the greenish coloured back with dark spots.

Habitat

It is a pelagic species that usually occurs in coastal waters.

Distribution

The Silver Toadfish is found widely throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.