Psychrolutidae
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 Polar sculpin, Cottunculus microps
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Ambophthalmos |
The fish family Psychrolutidae contains the fatheads or fathead sculpins, including the blobfishes. There are 9 genera and about 30 species. This poorly known family consists of bottom-dwelling marine sculpins shaped like tadpoles, with large heads and bodies that taper back into small, flat tails. They generally have large, leaflike pectoral fins and some species are covered with soft spines. They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, some near the shore and others in very deep water.
Although little research has been done yet on members of this family, they are considered quite interesting by ichthyologists. The blob sculpin, Psychrolutes phrictus, for example, exhibits complex nesting behaviors complete with egg guarding.
[edit] Species
- Genus Ambophthalmos
- Pale toadfish, Ambophthalmos angustus (Nelson, 1977)
- Ambophthalmos eurystigmatephoros Jackson & Nelson, 1999
- Frilled toadfish, Ambophthalmos magnicirrus (Nelson, 1977)
- Genus Cottunculus
- Genus Dasycottus
- Genus Ebinania
- Genus Eurymen
- Genus Gilbertidia
- Genus Malacocottus
- Genus Neophrynichthys
- Neophrynichthys heterospilos Jackson & Nelson, 2000
- Dark toadfish, Neophrynichthys latus (Hutton, 1875)
- Genus Psychrolutes
- Blobfish, Psychrolutes marcidus
- Blob sculpin, Psychrolutes phrictus
