ɔːstɹˈeɪliən pɹˈaʊfɪʃᵻz ɑːɹ dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃt baɪ ɐ lˈɔŋ dˈoːɹsəl fˈɪn ðæt bɪɡˈɪnz fˈɑːɹ fˈɔːɹwɚd ɔnðə hˈɛd, fˈɔːɹmɪŋ ˈeɪ "pɹˈaʊ" ʃˈeɪp, ænd ɛkstˈɛndz ˈɔːl ðə wˈeɪ tə ðə kˈɔːdəl fˈɪn.
Australian prowfishes are distinguished by a long dorsal fin that begins far forward on the head, forming a "prow" shape, and extends all the way to the caudal fin.