Abyssocottidae - (Deep-water sculpins) Distribution: primarily Lake Baikal, Siberia. Postcleithra reduced or absent; dorsal fin with 3-10 spines and 10-21 soft rays; anal fin with 8-16 soft rays; pelvic fin with one spine and 2-4 soft rays; vertebrae 30-37. Generally occur below 170 m.

Agonidae - (Poachers) Distribution: Arctic, northern North Atlantic, North Pacific, and southern South America. Usually elongate body, covered with bony plates. Pelvic fins thoracic; spine 1, soft rays 2. Dorsal fins 1 or 2; first dorsal fin, when present, spines 2-21; second dorsal fin soft rays 4-14 . Anal fin soft rays 4-28. Principal caudal fin rays 10-12. Branchiostegal rays 5 or 6. Basihyal rudimentary or absent. Tubular bones 1 or absent. Predorsal bone absent. Swimbladder absent. Vertebrae 34-47. Maximum length about 30 cm (Ref. 7463). Subfamilies included: Hypsagoninae (dragon poachers); Bathyagoninae (starsnouts); Bothragoninae (rockheads); Anoplagoninae (alligatorfishes); Agoninae (sturgeon poachers); Brachyopsinae (highmouth poachers) (Ref. 51659).

Anoplopomatidae - (Sablefishes) Distribution: North Pacific from Alaska to California and to Japan. Body moderately elongate and compressed. Head lacking ridges, spines, or cirri. Dorsal fins 2, the first with 12-30 spines and the second with 1 or 2 spines and 15-21 soft rays. Anal fin with 2 or 3 spines and 11-20 soft rays, located opposite second dorsal fin. Spines in second dorsal and anal fins small and embedded, difficult to discern. Pelvic fins thoracic, with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. Nostrils well-developed; 2 on each side. Scales ctenoid, very small, covering body and head and extending onto second dorsal, anal, caudal and pectoral fins. One lateral line canal, complete. Teeth small, even in size, and numerous; present on jaws, palatines and vomer. Gill membranes united, attached to isthmus. Branchiostegal rays 6 or 7. Swim bladder absent. Vertebrae 45-66. About 183 cm maximum length. Marine, demersal as adults, in fairly deep water. Juveniles typically found near the surface in relatively shallow water. Feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods, worms and other fishes. An important commercial species, in the fishery and market more commonly called as blackcod than sablefish. Also Ref. 245.

Apistidae - (Wasp scorpionfishes) Distribution: Indo-west Pacific. One or three free lower pectoral rays and a bilobed swim bladder. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Aploactinidae - (Velvetfishes) Distribution: western Pacific and Indian Ocean, mostly in the Indonesian and Australian regions. Coastal. Body usually velvety due to modified, prickly scales. With knoblike spines on head. Unbranched fin rays. Anal fin spines usually not distinct or lacking. Dorsal fin origin above eye or almost so, except in the genera Adventor and Peristrominous. First 3-5 dorsal fin spines usually appear segregated, either elevated or largely without membrane connection with the rest of the spinous dorsal. The first 3 or 4 spines form a separate fin in four species. Pelvic fin 1 spine with less than 4 soft rays. Anterior isthmus with fleshy extension in most species. No palatine teeth. No gill slit behind the last arch. Vertebrae 24-33.

Bathylutichthyidae - (Antarctic sculpins) Distribution: Antarctic Ocean, known only from South Georgia Island. Body naked; wide interorbital; one pair of long barbels on lower jaw at corner of mouth; one dorsal fin, anterior portion submerged under skin, with 13 spines and 28 soft rays; anal fin with 36 rays; pelvic fin with 3 soft rays; all fins unbranched; no teeth on vomer and palatines; seven branchiostegal rays; 49 vertebrae. One specimen known from 1650 m depth. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Bembridae - (Deepwater flatheads) Distribution: Indo-Pacifc from South Africa to Gulf of Aden, Japan, Hawaii and the Nasca Ridge off Peru. Body elongated and cylindrical, covered with ctenoid scales; head moderately to strongly depressed; large mouth with fine teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines. First dorsal fin with 6-12 spines and second dorsal fin with 8-12 soft rays; pectoral fin with 21-27 rays; pelvics with one spine and five soft rays, below pectoral base. Vertebrae 26-27. Lateral line complete. No swimbladder. Mostly small, red, benthic fishes occurring in deeper water (150-650 m) than other flatheads.

Comephoridae - (Baikal oilfishes) Distribution: Lake Baikal, Siberia. Naked; body glassy, appearing dull and translucent in life. Very long pectoral fins. Pelvic fins lacking but pelvic bones present. Postcleithra lacking. The lateral line system on the head consists of large cavities linked by narrow bony bridges with small external pores. Bones are porous to reduce weight. With 48-50 vertebrae. Live bearers (ovoviviparous). About 20 cm maximum length. Usually high in fat content.

Congiopodidae - (Racehorses or pigfishes) Distribution: Southern Hemisphere. Scaleless; sometimes with granular skin. Relatively long snout. A single nostril on each side. Very small gill opening, located above pectoral base. Usually well developed lateral line. Dorsal fins united (except in Zanclorhynchus); dorsal spines 8-21, soft rays 8-14. Anal fin spines 1-3 or absent; 5-10 soft rays. Pectoral fin with 8-12 rays. Vertebrae 28-39. Maximum length about 80 cm. One species in South Africa reportedly molts like reptiles. Four Genera: [Congiopodus (=Agriopus), Alerticthys, Perryena, and Zanclorhynchus; the latter three monotypic. Species of this family tend to be benthic and occur uo to 500 m.

Cottidae - (Sculpins) Distribution: Northern Hemisphere and near New Zealand. Body often appears naked, commonly bearing scales or prickles; eye usually large, located high on the head. Lateral line one. One spine on pelvic fin and 2-5 soft rays. Anal fin lacking spines. No swim bladder in adults. Reaches about 78 cm maximum length in Scorpaenichthys marmoratus. Marine sculpins = ISSCAAP 39; freshwater sculpins = ISSCAAP 13.

Cottocomephoridae - (Bighead sculpins) Some species pelagic. Distribution: Russia, primarily Lake Baikal. Postcleithra reduced or lacking. Attains about 18 cm maximum length. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Cyclopteridae - (Lumpfishes) Distribution: Arctic, northern regions of the North Pacific and North Atlantic. Most speciose in North Pacific. Sucking disk composed of modified pelvic fin elements; short gill openings; no normal scales; and no head spines. Vertebrae 23-29; globose or nearly globose body; 2 short dorsal fins; and a short anal fin. Most lumpfishes have spiny tubercles on the head and body. The number, structure and arrangement of the tubercles are important taxonomic characters. First dorsal fin with 4-8 spines, second dorsal with 8-13 soft rays located opposite an anal fin with 7-13 soft rays. Dorsal and anal fins not confluent with caudal fin, a definite caudal peduncle present. Caudal fin large and slightly rounded. Pectoral fins with 19-29 rays, extending ventrally in front of the pelvic disk. Nostrils tubular, two pairs. Cephalic lateral line canals well developed (occipital absent in some species); pores of operculomandibular canals extended externally as barbel-like tubes in some species. Trunk lateral line canal absent or short; superficial neuromasts, papillate in some species, present. Small, conical teeth on jaws arranged in a few rows or narrow bands. Gill opening entirely above pectoral fin base, except extending a little below upper corner of pectoral base in Cyclopterus. Branchiostegal rays 6. Swim bladder absent. Maximum length 61 cm. Marine; most species benthic on continental shelf and upper slope. A few species are primarily pelagic in deeper waters. Some, maybe all, spawn in shallow coastal waters, sometimes migrating hundreds of miles. After spawning, males guards the eggs. Diet in benthic environment includes polychaetes, crustaceans and mollusks. Pelagic diet comprises slow-moving prey, mostly medusae and ctenophores. In what may be partly a defensive reaction, they inflate their bodies by swallowing air or water. Also known as lumpsuckers. Nelson 1994 (Ref. 7463) recognizes Liparidae as a separate family.

Dactylopteridae - (Flying gurnards) Distribution: tropical Indo-Pacific and Atlantic. Benthic. Head large and blunt, with the bones forming a helmet; with keels and a long preopercle spine. Scales scute-like. Pectoral fins greatly enlarged, the inner rays free; total 28-37 rays. Two isolated dorsal spines preceeding the two dorsal fins. Thoracic pelvic fins; with 1 spine and 4 soft rays. Lateral line absent. Vertebrae 22. Reaches about 50 cm maximum length. Bears superficial resemblance to triglids; creates sounds by stridulation using the hypomandibular bone. Exhibits a 'walking' movement on the sea floor, accomplished by an alternate movement of the pelvic fins. Feed on sand-dwelling invertebrates. Xenocephalus armatus, the armored blenny from New Ireland, formerly placed in its own family, may belong here.

Ereuniidae - (Deepwater bullhead sculpins) Deep-water. Distribution: Japan. Pectoral fin with the lower four pectoral rays free as in triglids. Spinous ctenoid scales on body. Posterior part of orbit partly formed by prootic. The parasphenoid and pterosphenoid set apart. Spines on preopercle simple, not antlerlike. Branchiostegal rays 6. Postcleithra two; slender. Vertebrae 36-39 (13 + 13-16). Two monotypic genera: Ereunias and Marukawichthys. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Eschmeyeridae - (Cofishes) Distribution: Western Central Pacific. Suggested new common name for this family in a coming ref. following Ref. 58418.

Gnathanacanthidae - (Red velvetfish) Distribution: Western and South Australia. Scales absent. Body smooth or with tubercles or papillae. Pelvics with one spine and five soft rays; two separate dorsal fins of about equal length, the first with seven spines, the second with three spines and 10 or 11 soft rays; anal fin with three spines and eight or nine soft rays; all fin rays unbranched. Anterior isthmus with fleshy extension.

Hemitripteridae - (Sea ravens or sailfin sculpins) Distribution: northwestern Atlantic and North Pacific. Head and body covered with minute 'prickles' (modified, platelike scales bearing a single skin-covered spine). Frontoparietal ridgle knobby. Preopercular spines 3 or 4, mostly blunt and skin-covered. Two dorsal fins, the first with 6-19 spines, the second with 11-30 soft rays. Anal fin with 11-12 soft rays. Pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 soft rays. Lateral line canal complete , opening through numerous pores (more than 35). Vomerine and palatine teeth present. Gill membranes broadly attached to the isthmus or forming a free fold across the isthmus. Branchiostegal rays 6. Gill rakers in the form of low, spinous lates or knobs. Swim bladder absent. Vertebrae 35-41. External genital papilla presnt in males of some species. Bands and other pigmentation present and consistent but colors varying in some species with habitat, particularly in Hemitripterus. Maximum size about 73 cm. Marine, primarily demersal; intertidal to depths of 420 m or more, most species shallower than 200 m. Feeds mostly on small invertebrates. Also Ref. 7463.

Hexagrammidae - (Greenlings) Distribution: Endemic to the North Pacific Ocean, primarily in subarctic and temperate waters, with one species (Hexagrammos stelleri) also occurring in the Arctic Ocean. No spines on the upper part of the head. One or two fleshy cirri above each eye in most species. Body moderately elongate and compressed. Single dorsal fin; usually notched. Spines on dorsal fin 16-28; soft rays 11-30. Anal fin long based, with up to 4 spines which in most species are rudimentary, and 12-28 soft rays. Pelvic fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. One pair of nostrils. Anterior nostrils well developed. Posterior nostrils pore-like or absent. Scales ctenoid, except cycloid in Ophiodon elongatus. One or five lateral lines. Teeth typically small, present on jaws and vomer; present also on palatines on some species. Gill membranes broadly joined and free of the isthmus with gill openings not extending far forward, or gill membranes joined to each other only anteriorly and free of the isthmus with gill openings extending far forward. Branchiostegal rays 6. Swim bladder absent. Vertebrae 36-62. Coloration is highly variable in some species and frequently differs by sex, size, geographic locality and local habitat. Reaches 1.52 m maximum length (in Ophiodon elongatus). Marine; intertidal to depth of 600 m or more, most species typically found shallower than 200 m on the continental shelf. Demersal except for Atka mackerels, Pleurogrammus, which as adults are pelagic. Diet includes various prey such as crabs, amphipods, polychaetes, juvenile fishes and fish eggs. Maximum length about 60 cm, most species reaching less. Zaniolepis was recognized in its own family in Eschmeyer (1998). Subfamilies: Hexagramminae (greenlings); Ophiodontinae (lingcods); Oxylebiinae (painted greenlings); Pleurogramminae (Atka mackerels); Zaniolepidinae (combfishes). Also Ref. 7463.

Hoplichthyidae - (Ghost flatheads) Distribution: Indo-Pacific. Elongate fishes with very broad and strongly depressed head, bearing spines and ridges. Scaleless. Lateral row of spiny scutes. Pectoral fin with 3 or 4 lower rays free. Pelvic fins widely set apart. Spine on pelvic fins 1; soft rays 5. Anal fin without spines. Total vertebrae 26 (8 + 18). Benthic from about 10-1,500 m. Maximum length 43 cm.

Liparidae - (Snailfishes) Distribution: Arctic to Antarctic, Atlantic, and Pacific. Body elongate, scaleless (small prickles in some) and skin jellylike; dorsal fin (28-82 soft rays) and anal fin (24-76 soft rays) long, confluent, or nearly so, with caudal fin; pelvic fin (disc) absent in species of Paraliparis and in the monotypic Nectoliparis; nostrils single or paired (usually in Liparis); vertebrae 38-86. Maximum length about 50 cm. Occur from tidepools to depths of over 7,000 m.

Neosebastidae - (Gurnard scorpionfishes) Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. To be completed. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Normanichthyidae - (Barehead scorpionfishes) Distribution: off Chile. Scales ctenoid. Head without armor. One spine on pelvic fin; soft rays 5. Ribs lacking. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Parabembridae - (Sprat-like flatheads) Distribution: Indo-west Pacific. Head depressed; pelvics below pectoral base. Maximum size 24 cm SL. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Pataecidae - (Australian prowfishes) Distribution: Australia. Scales absent. Body smooth or with tubercles or papillae. No pelvic fins; very long continuous dorsal fin with 19-25 spines and 7-17 soft rays, extending from head to tail; anal fin with 5-11 spines and 3-7 soft rays; pectoral fin with 8 rays; all fin rays unbranched. Anterior isthmus with fleshy extension. Vertebrae 34 - 44. Maximum length 30 cm.

Peristediidae - (Armored searobins or armored gurnards) Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Body entirely encased in heavy spine-bearing plates; preorbitals each with a forward projection; pectoral fin with lower two rays free and enlarged; barbels on lower jaw. Found in deep water in the tropics of all oceans.

Platycephalidae - (Flatheads) Distribution: Indo-Pacific. Moderately to strongly depressed head. Pelvic fins behind pectoral base. Two dorsal fins: D1 6-9 spines with the first spine short and barely connected with the remaining fins; D2 11-15 soft rays. Pectoral fin with 16-22 rays. Demersal, burrying in the bottom. Feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes. Occurring at about 10-300 m. Maximum length about 1.1 m.

Plectrogenidae - (Stinger flatheads) Distribution: Pacific. Body compressed; head usually with spines and ridges; gill membranes free from isthmus; venom gland in dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Psychrolutidae - (Fatheads) Distribution: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. Naked or body with plates bearing prickles. Interorbital space usually wider than exposed eye diameter. Reduced lateral line with 20 or fewer pores. Pelvic fin 1 spine, 3 soft rays. Dorsal fins usually continuous, with the anterior portion spinous and often partially hidden by skin. Seven branchiostegal rays. Vomerine teeth present or absent. No palatine teeth. Postorbitals 1 or 2 (usually ringlike, if two). A system of well-developed bony arches (with or without spines) under skin on cranium. Vertebrae 28-38. Maximum length about 65 cm. Depth range of occurrence from inshore shallow water to about 2,800 m.

Rhamphocottidae - (Grunt sculpins) Distribution: North Pacific, Japan through Alaska to southern California. A very distinct sculpin with a long head and elongate snout. Basioccopital-parasphenoid fossa present; pelvis highly modified with an elongate subpelvic keel projecting forward and an anterodorsally projecting suprapelvic keel; four infraorbitals (Ref. 7463). Body deep, with a high dorsal profile, and moderately compressed; head and body covered with small, multispined plates projecting through the skin as 'prickles'; one preopercular spine, strong and sharp; all fin rays unbranched; first dorsal fin with 7-9 spines and second with 12-14 soft rays; anal fin with 6-8 soft rays ; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 or 4 soft rays; lower pectoral fin rays long, thickened, and free of membrane, used for crawling along the bottom and over rocks; trunk lateral line canal present, incomplete (extending as far as posterior third of seconf dorsal fin), with about 25 pores in short, elevated tubes; palatine teeth absent; gill membranes broadly joined to the isthmus; gill openings small, located above the base of the pectoral fins; branchiostegal rays 6; swim bladder absent; vertebrae 24-28. Maximum total length about 8.9 cm. Inhabits tide pools and shallow coastal waters of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, while farther south tending to occupy greater depths, to nearly 200 m, where the water is cooler. Frequently observed taking shelter in empty shells, including those of the giant barnacle, Balanus nubilis, and discarded bottles and cans. Diet comprises small crustaceans, fish larvae and zooplankton (Ref. 48784).

Scorpaenidae - (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) Distribution: all tropical and temperate seas. Marine. Rare in fresh water. Body compressed; head usually with ridges and spines; gill membranes free from isthmus. Scales, when present, usually ctenoid. Usually 1 dorsal fin, often notched. Some lack swim bladder. Dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines can bear venom gland. Fertilization mostly internal. Eggs are laid in a gelatinous balloon in some species; larvae are planktonic. The family contains the world's most venomous fishes, many of them brightly colored. Most species live on or near the bottom and feed on crustaceans or fishes. Most do well in aquariums, but some require live foods. The current arrangement follows Eschmeyer (1998) and includes the subfamilies Scorpaeninae, Sebastolobinae, and Pteroinae.

Sebastidae - (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads) Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The livebearing Sebastes with about 110 species occurs mainly in the North Pacific. Body compressed; head usually with ridges and spines; gill membranes free from isthmus. Venom gland in dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines.

Setarchidae - (Deep-sea bristly scorpionfishes) Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. To be completed. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.

Synanceiidae - (Stonefishes) Distribution: Indo-Pacific. No free pectoral rays; skin glands present, appearing as 'warts' in most species; dorsal fin with 11-17 spines and 4-14 soft rays; anal fin with 2-4 spines and 4-14 soft rays; pelvic fin with one spine and 3-5 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 11-10; vertebrae 23-30. Venom glands present near base of hypodermiclike dorsal fin spines. The neurotoxin of these fishes is the most deadly of the fish venoms and can be fatal to humans. Species camouflage as rocks. Mainly marine, but some species are known from rivers. We include here Nelson's (1994) Minoinae and Choridactylinae.

Tetrarogidae - (Wasp fishes) Distribution: Indo-west Pacific. Body compressed; head usually with ridges and spines; usually two divergent opercular spines; gill membrane free from isthmus. These fishes are extremely venemous. Mainly marine, but Notesthes robusta of coastal eastern Australia is primarily a freshwater fish. Bottom-dwelling predators of crustaceans and fishes.

Triglidae - (Searobins) Distribution: all temperate and tropical seas. Head bony and casquelike. Pectoral fin with lower 2 or 3 rays enlarged for food detection. Dorsal fins separate. Benthic. Good sound producers. Attains 1 m maximum length.

Caracanthidae - (Orbicular velvetfishes) Distribution: Indian and Pacific Oceans. Oval and strongly compressed body; papilose. Small mouth; terminal. Dorsal fin single; notched, with origin on nape. Spines in dorsal fin 6-8; soft rays 11-14. Extremely small pelvic fins. Pelvic spine 1; soft rays usually 2. Pectoral fins with 12-15 rays. Anal fin spines 2; soft rays 11-14. Gill openings lateral. Described as scaleless, but scales reportedly found below the dorsal fin base, the dorsal surface of the head with minute scales bearing a spine, and tubelike scales on the lateral line. Feed on small invertebrates and wedge themselves tightly among coral branches. Maximum length recorded 7 cm. Based on anatomical characters (osteological and myological), Caracanthidae is synonymized with Scorpaenidae (Ref. 56620).