Opsanus pardus
Leopard Toadfish
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Batrachoidiformes
Batrachoididae (Toadfishes)
Opsanus
Opsanus pardus (Leopard Toadfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Moderately compressed anteriorly and depressed posteriorly, with axillary pore behind pectoral fin base and gland on inner surface of upper pectoral fin membrane. Head has tentacles on inner margin of each eye; fleshy tabs along lower jaw; and blunt, flattened maxillary barbel. Lower jaw extends slightly beyond upper jaw, and mouth is moderately oblique. Jaws, vomer, and palatine have narrow bands of moderately blunt and moderate-sized teeth; canine teeth are lacking. Head length is 32.4%, head width is 30.5%, orbit diameter is 7.3%, interorbital width is 5.5%, snout to second dorsal fin origin is 47.4%, snout to anal fin origin is 59.6%, pectoral fin length is 25.4%, and pelvic fin length is 19.4% of SL. Operculum has two solid, sharp spines; suboperculum has single spine; and all spines may be hidden in skin. Pectoral fin has 20 to 22 rays. First dorsal fin has three short, solid spines. Second dorsal fin has 26 rays. Anal fin has 19 to 22 rays. Body lacks scales and has three lateral lines.
Color is yellowish, buff to straw colored, with dark brown markings forming reticulations on body. Dorsal and anal fins have diagonal dark brown bars over light ground color. Pectoral and caudal fins have dark blotching on light ground color, but blotching seldom forms bars.
Distribution
Western Atlantic in the Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Continental shelf
Rocky bottoms
Biology
Maximum known size is 380 mm TL
Inhabits offshore water on deeper rocky reefs.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (nesters); parental care: paternal.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2012-08-20. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from other species of the family by the combination of characters described
Commercial or Environmental Importance
gamefish.
References
Schultz and Reid 1937
Hastings et al. 1976
Hoese and Moore 1977
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Boschung 1992
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Comments On Opsanus pardus