Contusus brevicaudus, known as the prickly toadfish (a name also used for the closely related species C. richei), is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is known only from Australia, ranging from Western Australia to New South Wales, including Tasmania. It is a nocturnal species that inhabits estuaries and marine waters and is usually seen at depths of less than 20m (66ft). It reaches 25cm (9.8 inches) in total length.