This afternoon Andrew Wilson, marine biologist, brought a van full of artifacts from the sea and living aquatic creatures to entertain and educate kindergarten and second graders. He did an hour-long program for each grade level, then followed up with hands-on "Animal Close Encounters." Needless to say, the kids were enthralled.
This particular specimen is an oyster toadfish also called the ugly toad, oyster cracker and bar dog. According to Wikipedia, this 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.
Would you like to hear the mating call of a toadfish? Believe me, it's worth it: http://tinyurl.com/3qwxdmv (Be patient; it takes a minute to load.)
