Batrachoides surinamensis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Pacuma toadfish
Batrachoides surinamensis
photo by Isaac, V.J.

Family:  Batrachoididae (Toadfishes), subfamily: Batrachoidinae
Max. size:  57 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,300.0 g
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 36 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Honduras to Salvador (Bahia) in Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-30; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 25-27. Supraorbital and interorbital region smooth, without any filament; scaled area on head extending to middle of eye and opercle spine; 9 discrete pores on inner face of pectoral fin; body brown, with black spots and saddle-shaped blotches (Ref. 13608).
Biology:  Mainly in brackish water (Ref. 5217). Found on sandy-muddy bottoms in shallow warm water. Not so active, lingers over the substrate disguised. Feeds on small gastropod mollusks, crustaceans like crabs (Calappidae, Portunidae, Xanthidae, etc.), shrimps (Penaeidae, Palaemonidae, Alphaeidae, etc.) and fishes. Females are mature at around 20 cm length, males at 25 cm. Spawns 400 to 500 eggs, with a size of 4 to 5 mm (Ref. 35237). Marketed fresh.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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