Monacanthidae
by E. Tortonese
Body compressed and deep; abdomen more or less extensible. Eyes near dorsal edge. Mouth small; jaws with few incisor-like teeth in 1-2 series. Gill openings small, slit-like. Scales small and ctenoid (rough) giving a velvet appearance. Two dorsal fins; anterior with 1-2 spines, the second being very small or vestigial; posterior dorsal and anal fin similar and opposed; pelvics absent, usually replaced by short spine at end of long pelvic bone, often movable; all soft rays unbranched. Littoral near bottom or reefs in tropical to warm temperate seas.
Genera about 30; in Clofnam area 1.
Recent revision: Fraser-Brunner (1941).