Psychrolutidae

Psychrolutidae
Temporal range:
Tidepool sculpin (Oligocottus maculosus), a typical member of the family
Blob sculpin (Psychrolutes phrictus), a deep-sea member of the family in its natural state
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Cottoidei
Superfamily: Cottoidea
Family: Psychrolutidae
T. N. Gill, 1861
Genera

see text

Synonyms

Bathylutichthyidae Balushkin & Voskoboynikova, 1990

Psychrolutidae (commonly known as marine sculpins, flathead sculpins, blobfishes, or tadpole sculpins) is a family of sculpins found in cool temperate waters throughout the Northern Hemisphere, with a few species ranging into cold and deep waters of the Southern Hemisphere. The vast majority are found in marine habitats, but a few range into freshwater habitats. The family reaches its greatest diversity in the North Pacific Ocean, but a few species are found as far south as Antarctica. The family contains over 216 recognized species in 63 genera. Their name is derived from the Greek psychrolouteo, meaning "to have a cold bath".