Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system

Español  Contact



  • LL: 4 front, 2 rear, no light organs
    body ~ 4 dark saddles
    D1: II solid spines
    edge D: ~ 5 blotches
    C: dark outer 1/2
    Aphos porosus, the Monkfish
    opercle: 1 large spine
  • wide, depressed head
    small eyes
    no filaments between eyes
    nape scales reach before transverse canal
    dark saddles on back
    Batrachoides boulengeri, Boulenger's toadfish, Sorcerer toadfish
    D 28-30; A 26-27
  • wide head
    large eyes
    filaments on snout
    nape scales to before transverse canal
    D 25-27; A 21-23
    Batrachoides pacifici, Pacific toadfish
    cheek: oblique bar
  • narrow head
    very small eye, tentacles above
    no filaments on head
    nape scales not reaching transverse canal
    D 28; A 25
    top back - ~ 6 saddles
    Batrachoides walkeri, Walker's toadfish
  • head broad
    small eye
    filaments: snout & between eyes
    nape scales to just behind transverse canal
    D 26-28; A 23-25
    body - wide bars
    pectoral bars + spots
    C: bars
    Batrachoides waltersi, Hairy toadfish, Walter's toadfish, Multipored toadfish
  • back: dark + white reticulations
    LL white stripe
    D1: 2 hollow spines, black
    D2 & C: black borders
    Daector dowi, Spotted toadfish, Dows' toadfish, Brownback toadfish
    operculum - 1 spine
  • filaments: few, top head only
    brown + pale mesh
    3 dark saddles top back
    D2 25-27; A 24-26
    Daector reticulata, Reticulated toadfish
    large
  • filaments: many, side & top head
    tan + dark spots
    3 dark saddles on back
    D2 22; A 21
    Daector schmitti, Schmitt's toadfish
    small
  • ~ 7 saddles on back
    border D: 6 blotches
    A&C dark margins, A 33-39
    D & A not joined to C
    Porichthys analis, Gulf saddled midshipman, Dark-edge midshipman, Gulf saddled toadfish
    lower gill rakers: 11-13
    lower LL ends ~ 16 pores behind its row of light organs
  • back: ~ 5 saddles
    outer D: 11 dark blotches
    A & C: margins clear, A: 26-30
    D & A not joined to C
    Porichthys ephippiatus, Saddle midshipman
    lower gill rakers: 7-9
    lower LL ends ~ 5 pores behind its line of light organs
  • small eye
    back: 4-6 saddles
    fins clear
    D & A: joined to C
    Porichthys greenei, Greene's midshipman, Grumpy midshipman, Shorthead midshipman
    lower gill rakers: 7-8
    lower LL ends ~ 12 pores behind its line of light organs
    A 33-37; C 10
  • head & body spotted
    back: 6-7 saddles; D: 9-10 blotches
    C: dark border
    D & A not joined to C
    Porichthys margaritatus, Pearlspot midshipman, Blotched midshipman, Daisy midshipman, Bronze midshipman
    7-9 lower gill rakers
    lower LL ends behind its line of photophores
    A 29-33
  • back: 4-6 saddles
    D: 1-2 spots at front, dark border
    A&C: border dark, A 29-33
    D & A not joined to C
    Porichthys mimeticus, Mimetic midshipman, Mimic midshipman
    lower gill rakers: 10-12
    lower LL ends ~ 18 pores behind its line of photophores
  • back 9-10 saddles
    D & pectoral - spots and bars
    D & A not joined to C
    Porichthys myriaster, Specklefin midshipman
    lights in U band across front chin
    10-14 lower gill rakers
    LL ends ~ 10 pores before its line of photophores
    A 33-38
  • upper body uniform/6-7 dark saddles
    white blotch under eye
    fins no spots, D&A - dark edges
    D & A not joined to C
    Porichthys notatus, Plainfin midshipman
    10-11 lower gill rakers
    lights in V band across front chin
    lowest LL ends 3 pores before its line of lights
    A 30-35
  • small eye
    back: 5-7 saddles; fins clear
    D & A: joined to C
    Porichthys oculellus, Small-eye midshipman
    lower gill rakers: 7-8
    lower LL ends behind its line of lights
    A 35-38; C 12