Species profile
Oyster Toadfish
Opsanus tau
At a glance
Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus tau) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 1,226 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with New York, Virginia, and South Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Males produce a loud foghorn-like 'boat whistle' call audible to swimmers above the surface.
- Oyster toadfish flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1998 to study balance in zero gravity.
- They have venomous dorsal and opercular spines capable of causing painful wounds.
- Adults grow to about 43 cm (17 inches) and can weigh over 1 kilogram.
- They are remarkably tolerant of pollution and severely low dissolved oxygen levels.
Where Oyster Toadfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Oyster Toadfish
Background
The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, also known as the ugly toad, oyster cracker, oyster catcher, and bar dog, is a fish of the family Batrachoididae. The maximum length of the toadfish is about 38 cm; the most common recorded length of an oyster toadfish is about 30 cm. They are generally yellowish with a pattern of brown oblique bars.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Oyster Toadfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.