Notacanthidae
by K. J. Sulak
Body anguilliform, compressed or cylindrical. Pelvic and anal fins with hard spines anteriorly. Dorsal fin consisting of a series of short, hard, isolated spines, extending posteriorly beyond midpoint of body. Caudal fin minute. Mouth inferior. Teeth small and in a single comb-like row. Branchiostegal membranes joined, at least anteriorly. Scales small, cycloid. Lateral line rather indistinct, without enlarged scales. Sensory canals of head indistinct.
Benthopelagic from continental slope to continental rise (125-3,500 m). Circumglobal, some species strictly boreal. They may form occasional aggregations. Feed on benthic infauna and epifauna, especially coelenterates, bryozoans. Jaws and teeth equipped for cropping and browsing. Dioecious. Breeding males have darkened anterior nostrils. Females of some species appear to attain a larger size than do males. Sex ratio heavily in favour of females in some species. Larvae are leptocephali; may attain large size (to 1,800 mm) prior to metamorphosis. Commercial importance: one species taken off Japan (Notacanthus chemnitzii).
Genera 2, both in Clofnam area.
Recent revision: McDowell (1973).