Specimens: 



Tracy (1910) mentions a specimen at the Boston Society of 

 Natural History which was taken at Newport. 



Family Batrachoididae 



Genus Opsanus 



(201) Opsanus tau (Linnaeus) 1766 

 Toadfish, toad grunter 



Specimens: (PLATE 70) 



The toadfish is found throughout the year among rocks and 

 weeds along the Rhode Island shoreline. It is believed that this 

 species hibernates in the mud during the winter. Occasionally 

 taken by trawlers, trap fishermen and anglers, this species is of no 

 economic importance. 



Family Balistidae 

 Genus Batistes 



(202) Batistes caroiinensis Gmelin 1789 

 Triggerfish 



Specimens: 



This tropical species strays into Rhode Island waters during the 

 summer and fall. Specimens were collected in Winnapaug Pond, 

 Charlestown Pond and Block Island Sound during 1957. The 

 Charlestown specimen was taken alive by S. Saila and kept in 

 captivity for over a month in the tanks at the Narragansett Marine 

 Laboratory before expiring. On August 6, 1957, a 19-inch (TL) 

 member of this species weighing 4.25 pounds was taken four miles 

 south of Xapatree Point, Watch Hill. The author believes this 

 specimen to be a new size record for Batistes carotinensis. 



(203) Batistes forcipatus Gmelin 1789 

 Powell's filefish 



Specimens: 



This is an extremely rare species of questionable presence in 

 Rhode Island waters. It is recorded from the west coast of Africa 

 and Brazil. Tracy (1910) cites a young specimen of this species 



