Fish
Silverstripe Blaasop
Lagocephalus sceleratus
A dangerously toxic pufferfish of KZN inshore waters, silver-bellied with a dark back and a bright silver flank stripe.
Also known as silver-cheeked toadfish, silverstripe pufferfish, toadfish
- Typical size
- Commonly 30-50 cm
- Habitat
- Inshore and offshore soft bottoms
- Depth
- Shallows to ~100 m
The silverstripe blaasop is a smooth-skinned puffer with a dark green-grey back, spots along the upper body, a white belly and a distinct silver line low on the flank. Like all blaasops it can inflate itself with water when threatened, and it has strong beak-like teeth.
It occurs in inshore and offshore waters along the east coast and is a frequent nuisance to anglers, biting through traces with those teeth. Critically, its flesh and organs contain tetrodotoxin, a potent and potentially fatal poison for which there is no antidote, so it must never be eaten and should be handled with care and released.