Tetractenos
Encyclopedia
Tetractenos is a genus
of Tetraodontidae. The genus can be found throughout the Indo-West Pacific and Australia's southern and eastern coastlines. It contains two species: T. glaber (the smooth toadfish
) and T. hamiltoni (the common toadfish
).
The general colour of the species in this genus varies, as at night they take on a deeper colour than during daytime, and, as with all toadfishes and puffers, the colour of skin changes slightly depending on the mood or stress level of the animal. For example, when a Tetractenos is in oxygen
-depleted water, its underbelly will be a darker colour than the usual whitish-cream. The body of both species is covered in small, gravel-like pustules (spots). Small, sandpaper
-like spines can be found on the body, and when the animal "puffs up" they stick out and make it feel even more rough.
Although the colour varies, T. hamiltoni is sandy to whitish in colour, with small brown spots over most of the back and upper sides, and brown bars and blotches beneath. T. glaber has larger spots and blotches, and less prominent spines, hence its common name, smooth toadfish
.
The genus Tetractenos was once classed as Tetraodon
or Tetrodon, and is sometimes also confused with Torquigener
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Tetraodontidae. The genus can be found throughout the Indo-West Pacific and Australia's southern and eastern coastlines. It contains two species: T. glaber (the smooth toadfish
Smooth toadfish
The smooth toadfish or smooth toado is a species of fish in the Tetraodontidae family of order Tetraodontiformes, found along Australia's eastern and southeast coast, from northern Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania...
) and T. hamiltoni (the common toadfish
Common toadfish
The common toadfish or common toado or toadfish or toado is a species of fish in the Tetraodontidae family of order Tetraodontiformes, found along Australia's eastern coast, from northern Queensland to Flinders Island, and around Lord Howe Island, as well as in New...
).
The general colour of the species in this genus varies, as at night they take on a deeper colour than during daytime, and, as with all toadfishes and puffers, the colour of skin changes slightly depending on the mood or stress level of the animal. For example, when a Tetractenos is in oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
-depleted water, its underbelly will be a darker colour than the usual whitish-cream. The body of both species is covered in small, gravel-like pustules (spots). Small, sandpaper
Sandpaper
Sandpaper, also known as glasspaper, is a heavy paper with abrasive material attached to its surface.Sandpaper is part of the "coated abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother , to remove a layer of material...
-like spines can be found on the body, and when the animal "puffs up" they stick out and make it feel even more rough.
Although the colour varies, T. hamiltoni is sandy to whitish in colour, with small brown spots over most of the back and upper sides, and brown bars and blotches beneath. T. glaber has larger spots and blotches, and less prominent spines, hence its common name, smooth toadfish
Smooth toadfish
The smooth toadfish or smooth toado is a species of fish in the Tetraodontidae family of order Tetraodontiformes, found along Australia's eastern and southeast coast, from northern Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania...
.
The genus Tetractenos was once classed as Tetraodon
Tetraodon
Tetraodon is the largest genus in the pufferfish family . Its 23 members have a wide distribution, from Africa to Southeast Asia...
or Tetrodon, and is sometimes also confused with Torquigener
Torquigener
Torquigener is a genus of fish in the Tetraodontidae family.It contains several species, including:* Torquigener brevipinnis* Torquigener pleurogramma * Torquigener hypselogeneion...
.