Genus: Batrachoides, Toadfishes

BATRACHOIDES

TOADFISHES

Body elongate, depressed at front, compressed at rear; head broad, depressed; mouth strongly oblique, lower jaw projecting; large molar teeth on both jaws, no canines; 2 solid spines on upper opercle and 2 more below and behind those; gill openings restricted to side, before pectoral fin base; dorsal fin with III solid spines, spiny and soft parts joined; dorsal and anal fins not joined to tail fin; 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, no light organs; body covered with small imbedded scales.

A tropical genus of 9 species found in the East and West Atlantic as well as our region, where it is represented by 4 endemics.