Featured Article Summary #28

The smooth toadfish is a fish species that is found in coastal waters of southeastern Australia. It was first described in 1813 by a French naturalist, but was often confused with a similar species called the common toadfish. The smooth toadfish is up to 16 cm long and has dark markings on its dorsal side. Unlike other pufferfish, it doesn't have prominent spines on its body. It feeds on molluscs and crustaceans in the sediments at the bottom of the water. The smooth toadfish is considered highly poisonous due to the presence of tetrodotoxin, and eating it can be fatal. The smooth toadfish was initially described in 1813 but was confused with the common toadfish until 1983. It was assigned to different genera over time but was eventually placed in the new genus Tetractenos in 1983. It is known by various common names in Australia. The smooth toadfish is a small fish with an elongated body, rounded back, and flat belly. It has elongated and rounded fins, with the dorsal fin having 9 to 11 rays. The fish has a small mouth with thin lips and round eyes. It has a pale tan to yellow-green color on its upperparts, with irregular brown spots and dark brown bands. The fish can be distinguished from the common toadfish by its lack of spines and larger, bolder markings. The smooth toadfish is commonly found along Australia's eastern and southeast coast, living in shallow water less than 3m deep. They are often found in estuaries and seagrass beds, particularly in water less than 1.5m deep. Although not much is known about their movements, tagging patterns suggest they spend most of their life cycle in estuaries and can venture into freshwater areas. The smooth toadfish is currently not considered at risk according to the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution and stable population. However, the impact of habitat loss on mangroves and seagrass beds, which are essential to the species, is uncertain.