Family: TRIGLIDAE, Searobin, Gurnards, Searobins

FAMILY TRIGLIDAE

GURNARDS, SEAROBINS

These scorpionfish relatives are small to medium sized fishes (10 cm to 1 m) are characterized by a large, squarish, bony head that has many ridges and spines; any snout projections are short; no barbells under chin; mouth opens at front or slightly under snout; teeth on jaws and roof of mouth simple; two separate dorsal fins, IX-XI + 11-14 segmented soft rays; pectoral fins short to long, with 3 enlarged, free rays at bottom of fin that are detached from main fin; body with rough scales, but no scutes (enlarged, spiny scales).

The family contains 11 genera and about 77 species inhabits all tropical and temperate seas from rocky shallows to considerable depths. There are 19 species in two neotropical genera in the Greater Caribbean.