pores and 4 mandibular pores. There may be two lateral lines which can vary from a hardly noticeable row of neuromasts to consisting of one or more canals which can have complex branching. Their teeth are small and may be incisor-like or conical in shape. In the majority of species the gill membranes are widely joined and separate from the isthmus. Most species have a siphon on the operculum. They usually have a pyloric caeca but not a swim bladder. They have ribs. Distribution and habitat Stichaeidae is found in the North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Arctic oceans, with the majority of species in the North Pacific. They are coastal fishes which are found beneath rocks and in algae from the intertidal zone to shallow bays. the can be found at depths greater than on the outer continental shelf. References Zoarcoidei