Oyster Toadfish

Toadfish are ambush predators during the day, when they remain buried or hidden under structure and lunge for passing prey. At night they forage. Toadfish eat benthic invertebrates (e.g. polychaetes) and xanthid crabs. Toadfish have sharp teeth and powerful jaws.

Oyster toadfish are apex predators on oyster reefs. Nonetheless, evidence exists that they are prey for birds (e.g. cormorants). A related species, Opsanus beta, is prey for dolphins. Research has demonstrated that toadfish will call less when dolphin sounds are played from a nearby speaker. For protection, toadfish have a spine in the first ray of the dorsal fin. They can bury themselves up to their eyeballs in sand, and might be capable of camouflage.

Oyster toadfish spawn in coastal estuaries from May through August, with some variation between latitudes. Males excavate nests under rocks or other debris and begin making advertisement calls, also known as boatwhistles and foghorns. Females are attracted to these calls. Females choose a mate, enter the nest, attach eggs to the underside of the structure, then leave. Females provide no parental care. Males fertilize the eggs, then defend and clean the nest while embryos develop. Toadfish embryos are large and, as a result, have been studied for over a century.

After about 4 weeks the eggs hatch. At first, the young toadfish stay attached to the yolk. When the yolk has been absorbed for energy, the young toadfish learn to swim. Even when the young have started to swim, the adult still protects its young.