Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

Español  Contact

Species: Porichthys pauciradiatus, Few-rayed Toadfish, Fewrayed Toadfish

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

head & back: no spots
gill rakers 8-9
pectoral 14-16
light-organ line under throat V shaped

Porichthys pauciradiatus Caldwell & Caldwell, 1963

Few-rayed Toadfish, Fewrayed Toadfish

Body compressed, elongate; head a little flattened above, no tentacles; 1 strong solid, often spear-shaped spine on opercle, no subopercular spines; teeth like canines; 8-9 gill rakers; gill openings restricted to side, before pectoral fin base; dorsal rays II (solid) + 29-32; anal rays 27-30; pectoral fin 14-16 rays; discrete glands on inner surface of pectoral between upper fin rays, no pore behind pectoral fin base; four lateral lines with conspicuous rows of light organs; row of light organs behind chin row form a V shape; no scales.

Tan or silvery whitish with 7-8 brown saddles along upper body; dorsal fin with ~6 blotches along outer half; tail with dark border; front part of anal fin with dark margin; head & back not spotted.

Size: grows to at least 7.4 cm.

Inhabits soft bottoms.

Depth: 0-55 m.

Belize to Brazil.


High Resolution Map Download

Species Data Create Report Export as Word File Export as Excel File
Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Sand & gravel
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Soft bottom only
  • Mud
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
Egg Type
  • Benthic
  • Data
  • No pelagic larva
  • No pelagic phase
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Also in Brazil
  • Continent
  • Continent only
  • Extends South of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 7.4
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 55