Description
Body rather flattened and depressed, without scales. Enlarged preopercular spine, no spines on operculum and suboperculum. Two dorsals (except for the Japanese genus Draculo ); dorsal fin usually with 4 spines and 6-11 soft rays; anal fin with 4-10 soft rays, anal rays not divided (except for the last, which is divided at base); pelvic fins with 15-20 soft rays; pelvics jugular. Gill openings reduced to pores. Lateral line present, consisting of pores.
Oviparous, pelagic eggs and larvae. Most species territorial, males aggressive to each other. Complex courtship behaviour with 4 phases: courtship, pairing, ascending, releasing eggs and milt.
Distribution
Family of benthic fishes comprising 11 genera, in temperate and warm seas; on sandy and muddy bottoms, sometimes under stones, from tidal zone to 650 m. Most species rare, a few species moderately common or common. Only occasional in nets, no commercial importance.
Recent revision: Fricke, 1983 (Indo-Pacific species).
Genus included on this CD-rom:
Genus Callionymus