Thalassophryne is a genus of toadfishes found in the western Atlantic Ocean with one species (T. amazonica) found in the Amazon River and some of its tributaries.

Thalassophryne
Thalassophryne maculosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Batrachoidiformes
Family: Batrachoididae
Subfamily: Thalassophryninae
Genus: Thalassophryne
Günther, 1861
Type species
Thalassophryne maculosa
Günther, 1861[1]

Species edit

There are currently six recognized species in this genus:[2]

Venom edit

Members of the genus Thalassophyne are venomous. Venom is delivered through two hollow spines on the dorsal fin and two spines on pre-opercular regions, a venomous gland is located at the base of the spines and can be erected or depressed by the fish.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Thalassophryne". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). Species of Thalassophryne in FishBase. April 2012 version.
  3. ^ Haddad Junior, Vidal; Pardal, Pedro Pereira Oliveira; Cardoso, João Luiz Costa; Martins, Itamar Alves (August 2003). "The venomous toadfish Thalassophryne nattereri (niquim or miquim): report of 43 injuries provoked in fishermen of Salinópolis (Pará State) and Aracaju (Sergipe State), Brazil". Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo. 45 (4): 221–223. doi:10.1590/S0036-46652003000400009. hdl:11449/30490. PMID 14502351.

Further reading edit