Family: TRIACANTHODIDAE, Spikefishes, Spikefish
deep compressed body
D VI (I long & strong)
teeth cónical, 10+ in outer series on each jaw
pelvic I (large) + 1 (tiny)
skin thick, scales small, spiny
FAMILY TRICANTHODIDAE
SPIKEFISHES
Small fishes, with deep, slightly compressed bodies; mouth small, opens at front; teeth conical, 10 or more in outer series on each jaw; gill opening a short vertical slit before pectoral base; VI dorsal spines, the first long and strong, decreasing in size to rear, spines can be locked upright; fin rays branched; pelvic fin with a large spine and 1 inconspicuous ray; skin thick, covered with numerous small scales, each with tiny spines.
This tropical to subtropical family, which contains 11 genera and about 20 species, occurs throughout the tropics, except for the eastern Pacific and eastern Atlantic.Five species in 3 genera occur in the Greater Caribbean.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER MATSUURA (2002)
