Oyster toadfish

John grabbed the gloves and I grabbed the camera because another unexpected creature found it's way into the crab pot! It turns out this lovely guy is appropriately called a oyster toadfish, so here is your marine biology lesson for today:







Opsanus tau
Also known as the ugly toad, oyster cracker and "bar dog". The species can live in very bad conditions and needs little food to live. It is an omnivore. Common prey include crustaceans, mollusks, amphipods, squid, and other smaller fish. Toadfish rely upon camouflage to catch their food; they lie motionless waiting for prey to wander close by, then attack by surprise. They can be found anywhere from Maine to the Caribbean Sea.

Now you know!