Silver-cheeked toadfish is poisonous, not venomous

Dear Cyprus Mail team,

I hope you are well.

I recently read your article about the silver-cheeked toadfish.

Technically, these fish are primarily classified as poisonous because their primary danger to humans comes from ingestion. However, because they can also cause symptoms through skin contact, they could be considered to have some venomous characteristics.

Yet, the term ‘venomous’ is typically reserved for organisms that actively inject toxins through bites, stings, or other mechanisms, which is not the case for the toadfish. Thus, they are best described as poisonous and not venomous.
It might seem like a small detail to point out, but it might mean a lot when someone encounters one.
Best,
Alex