302 VENOMS 
5.—Batrachiide. 
The venomous species belonging to this family are few in 
number. They are found in all tropical seas, but have no repre- 
sentatives in Europe. The best-known species are Batrachus tau 
(shores of Central America), and B. grunniens, or Grunting Batra- 
chus (fig. 110). 
Fig. 111.—Thalassophryne reticulata (Panama; Tropical Pacific). 
(After Savtschenko.) 
The Grunting Batrachus, which does not exceed 30 cm. in 
length, is especially common in West Indian waters. When taken 
from the water it makes a peculiar grunting sound, whence its name 
is derived. The pectoral fins are reddish, the back is brown, and 
the sides are yellow, marbled with black. It has three spines in the 
anterior dorsal fin, and a fourth spine on the top of the operculum, 
with a small poison-sac at the base of each. 
