Creature of the Month

Splendid Toadfish 
Sanopus splendidus

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Toadfish are found on the sand and mud bottoms of coastal waters worldwide. They usually have broad heads and drab colors, and look something like toads. The Splendid Toadfish, though, is different.

As you can see in the photos, the Splendid Toadfish is attractively patterned in purple. Most of its fins are edged in yellow with the pelvic fin being entirely yellow. It also has a yellow mouth. Also known as the Coral Toadfish, Sanopus splendidus generally lives on sand under crevices or coral heads in clear water, 10-25 m. It hunts at night, preying on small fishes, snails and polychaete worms.

The Splendid Toadfish was thought to be only found in Cozumel (Mexico) but sightings have also been reported in Belize. However, it is not widespread and is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (www.iucnredlist.org). This means that although it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

Reprinted with permission:
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