The species was first recorded in Malta in 2015.
Marine biologist Alan Deidun has raised alarm over a concerning discovery in Maltese waters: the silver cheeked toadfish, a highly toxic invasive species.
Sharing the find on social media, the marine biologist highlighted the dangers posed by this ‘spreading toxic invader.’
The fish, captured by citizen scientist Theoclisto Vella, marks yet another sighting since the species was first recorded in Malta in 2015. Native to the Indo-Pacific region, this toadfish harbours tetrodotoxin (TTX) throughout its tissues, a substance so potent that it causes several fatalities globally each year.
Unlike many other fish, the silver cheeked toadfish remains highly dangerous even after cooking. Consuming it can lead to severe poisoning and is often fatal. The species’ presence in Maltese waters underscores the growing impact of invasive marine life in the Mediterranean, likely linked to changing ocean conditions and human activity.
Be on the look out!