Pacuma toadfish (Batrachoides surinamensis)

Scientific name: Batrachoides surinamensis Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Pacuma toadfish (Batrachoides surinamensis)

The Pacuma toadfish (Batrachoides surinamensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Batrachoididae. Native range: Western Central Atlantic, Honduras to Salvador (Bahia) in Brazil.

Biology

Mainly in brackish water. 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. Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Batrachoides surinamensis
Family
Batrachoididae (Toadfishes)
Order
Batrachoidiformes (Toadfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
57.0
Common length
35.0
Depth range
36 m (118 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 36 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Central Atlantic: Honduras to Salvador (Bahia) in Brazil.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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