vˈɛlvɪtfɪʃᵻz ɡɛt ðɛɹ nˈeɪm fɹʌmðə mˈɑːdᵻfˌaɪd, pɹˈɪkli skˈeɪlz wˌɪtʃ kˈʌvɚ ðə bˈɑːdi ænd ɡˈɪv ðə fˈɪʃ ɐ vˈɛlvɪɾi ɐpˈɪɹəns, ɔːlðˈoʊ ðɛɹˌɑːɹ sˌʌm spˈiːsiːz wˌɪtʃ duːnˌɑːt hæv ðiːz mˈɑːdᵻfˌaɪd skˈeɪlz ænd hæv smˈuːð skˈɪn, ðeɪ tˈɪpɪkli hæv nˈɑːbi lˈʌmps ɔnðə hˈɛd, ɔːlðˈoʊ sˈʌmtaɪmz ðɛɹ mˈeɪ biː ʃˈɑːɹp spˈaɪnz.
Velvetfishes get their name from the modified, prickly scales which cover the body and give the fish a velvety appearance, although there are some species which do not have these modified scales and have smooth skin, They typically have knobby lumps on the head, although sometimes there may be sharp spines.