Echeneididae
by E. A. Lachner
A transversely laminated, oval-shaped disc on head, homologous with spinous dorsal fin; skull wide, depressed, forming a cranial table to support disc; body fusiform, elongate; jaws broad, lower jaw projecting beyond upper; jaws and vomer with villiform teeth, usually on tongue, and in some species on palatines; scales small and cycloid, usually embedded; gillrakers rather short, 8-30 on lower limb; 4 gills; vertebrae 26-41; disc length 1.7-5 times in SL; disc laminae 9-28; dorsal finrays 18-45; anal finrays 18-41; pectoral fins high, with 18-32 rays; pelvic fins far forward, close together, with 1 spine and 5 rays; caudal finrays almost always 1, 8 + 7, 1; pseudobranchiae minute; 9 branchiostegal rays. Marine in tropical and subtropical waters. Some free-swimming, inshore, and others offshore usually attached to or seeking a host. Feed on fish, plankton, most crustaceans, and some are active parasite pickers while attached or about their host. Planktonic larvae.
Genera 4; all in Clofnam area.