© EXPLIAS (HCMR)
Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1788)
Bat-shaped body. Reaches sizes of ≈100 cm, but the common length is ≈50 cm. Mouth with fused jaw teeth which are very sharp. A characteristic silver band runs along the sides. Back silvery-grey with black dots of nearly equal size, belly white.
Corsini, M., Margies, P., Kondylatos, G., Economidis, P.S., (2006). Three new exotic fish records from the SE Aegean Greek waters. Scientia Marina 70: 319-323.
2005
UNA
Silver-cheeked toadfish
Inhabits offshore reefs, sandy bottoms and Posidonia oceanica meadows. Feeds on cephalopods, crustaceans and fish.
A voracious predator that prefers cephalopods (squids, cuttlefish and octopus). Fishers report significant reductions of commercial cephalopods in areas where silver-cheeked toadfish thrives.
Highly toxic and fatal to eat! Contains tetrodotoxin which is a source for food poisoning! The EU has forbidden its commercially exploitation. Predation on native species and gear damaging affects fisheries. Attacks to humans have been reported.
No (toxic, leathal to eat)
Yes (toxic, leathal to eat)
Records of Lagocephalus sceleratus
Sites where Lagocephalus sceleratus has been recorded in the Hellenic Sea.