Species: Batrachoides surinamensis, Pacuma toadfish

Batrachoides surinamensis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Pacuma toadfish

Head and front of body greatly depressed; head short (27-39% of SL) and very wide, the front square when viewed from above; eyes very small, without tentacles over them, many tentacles around lower jaws; fine filaments on head only at front; 2 spines on upper opercle, 2 spines below and behind those; teeth pointed; gill openings restricted to side, before pectoral fin base; dorsal rays III (solids spines), 28-30; anal 25-27 rays; pectoral 20-22 rays; 3-11 discrete glands on inner surface of pectoral fin between bases of upper rays; glandular tissue but no pore just behind pectoral base; 2 lateral lines (54-67 pores on upper line, 48-66 on lower), no light organs; body covered with small imbedded scales; scales on nape extend forwards to a little behind eyes.

Brown; several prominent dark bars on head and body; fins without stripes or bars.

Size: 57 cm.

Habitat: muddy, brackish to marine bottoms.

Depth: 1-36 m.

Honduras to Brazil.