Batrachidae , or toad fish [1] ( lat. Batrachoididae ) , is a family of ray-finned fish , the only one in the order of batrachiforms [1] , or toads (Batrachoidiformes) [2] . It unites about 82 species of fish in 23 genera [3] and four [4] subfamilies.
| Bathrach |
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| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Squad: | Batrachoidiformes Berg , 1937 |
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| International scientific name |
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Batrachoididae Jordan , 1896 |
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Mostly marine, inactive, typically bottom or bottom coastal predatory fish, which, as a rule, reach a small and medium size - 20-35 cm, and the largest species - no more than 57 cm in length. Distributed in the Pacific , Indian and Atlantic oceans. They inhabit the temperate and tropical zones of the seas from the shallow coast to a depth of several hundred meters. Occasionally, they can enter the brackish waters of estuaries and estuaries , several species are freshwater. They live among stones and in thickets of algae. Usually have a dull color. Some species make sounds using the swimming bladder and can live outside the water for several hours [1] .
Sounds made by these fish can have a wide variety of sounds, as well as strength, sometimes exceeding 100 decibels. Among such sounds, which can be clearly heard by the human ear on a quiet night from the shore, there are long and short low beeps, a fast repeating knock, cracking, buzzing, grunts and a "throaty" growl. Some fish on the body have numerous (more than several hundred) luminous organs - photophores . Among the toad fish, there are venomous species in which the poisonous glands are located in the bases of the hollow spiny rays of the first dorsal fin and the gill cover spine. An injection with such thorns and spikes causes a very painful manifestation in a person, but the strength of the poison is insufficient for a fatal outcome [2] .
They have no fishing value.
Content
A body with a large wide head and a tail compressed laterally. The eyes are located on the top of the head rather than on its sides. The body, as a rule, is bare, only in some species it is covered with small cycloid scales. The mouth is large, framed by the premaxillary and maxillary bones. There are numerous sharp teeth on the jaws. Two dorsal fins: the first is short, consisting of 2–4 thick spines, and the second is long. The pectoral fins are wide, fan-shaped; in the sinus of the pectoral fin in some species there is a peculiar pore (hole). The ventral fins are located in front of the pectoral fins, on the throat, and contain one spine and two or three soft rays. The gill membrane is widely accrued to the inter-gill gap and is supported by six rays. There are only three pairs of branchial arches. Swimming bubble available. Pyloric appendages are absent. There are 4 or 5 radials in the skeleton of the pectoral fin. In the skeleton of the caudal fin, the upper hypurals have a peculiar “intervertebral” connection with the rest of the skeleton. Ribs, apex and posterior bones are absent [1] [2] .
There are currently 4 subfamilies in the Batrach family, including the largest Halophryninae subfamily established in 2008, isolated from the Batrachoidinae subfamily [4] .
Subfamily Batrachoidinae
In the first dorsal fin 3 are solid (incomplete) spines. There is a hard spike on the cap bone; several hard spikes on the axillary bone. There are no poisonous glands. The body is covered with cycloid scales or bare. No photophores. There are no fanged teeth on the jaws. An axillary gland is present or absent at the base of the ventral fin. On the sides of the body there is usually one or three side lines [1] and includes the later identified Halophryninae subfamily.
Distributed in the New World off the coasts of both Americas [4] ; 24 species in 6 genera [3] :
- Genus Amphichthys - Amphicts (2 species)
- Genus Batrachoides - Sapa (9 species)
- Genus Opsanus - Toad (5 species)
- Genus Potamobatrachus (1 species)
- Genus Sanopus (6 species)
- Genus Vladichthys (1 species)
Halophryninae Subfamily
Distributed in the Old World off the coasts, Africa , Europe , South Asia , as well as Australia [4] ; 32 species in 13 genera [3] :
- Genus Allenbatrachus (3 species)
- Genus Austrobatrachus - Austrobatrachi (2 species)
- Genus Barchatus (1 species)
- Genus Batrachomoeus - Batrachomeus (5 species)
- Genus Batrichthys - Batrichtis (2 species)
- Genus Bifax (1 species)
- Genus Chatrabus - Hatrabi (3 species)
- Genus Colletteichthys (3 species)
- Genus Halobatrachus - Mediterranean toad fish (1 species)
- Genus Halophryne - Halofrins (4 species)
- Genus Perulibatrachus (4 species)
- Genus Riekertia - Riekertia (1 species)
- Genus Triathalassothia (2 species)
Subfamily Porichthyinae
In the first dorsal fin 2 are solid (incomplete) spines. The cap bone has a hard spike. There are no spines on the axillary bone. There are no poisonous glands. The body is bare. Photophores are present or absent. Fanged teeth on the jaws are. At the base of the ventral fin, the axillary gland is absent. On the sides of the body there are several lateral lines [1] .
Distributed in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean and in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean [1] ; 15 species in 2 genera [3] :
- Aphos genus (1 species)
- Genus Porichthys - Midshipman fish (14 species)
Thlassophryininae Subfamily
In the first dorsal fin 2 hollow spines. The cap bone has a hollow spike. There are no spines on the axillary bone. The poisonous glands are connected with the hollow spines of the first dorsal fin and with a hollow spike on the gill lid, which, when injected, inject poison into the soft tissues of the victim. The body is bare. Photophores are absent. There are no fanged teeth on the jaws. There is one lateral line on the sides of the body or no lateral lines. In the pectoral fin 13-18 rays [1] .
Distributed in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean and in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean [1] ; 11 species in 2 genera [3] :
- Genus Daector - Dectors (5 species)
- Genus Thalassophryne - Thalassophrins (6 species)
