Ophidiinae

Ophidiinae is a subfamily of the cusk eel family Ophidiidae. The species in the subfamily are characterised by having their pelvic fins situated far forward on the body and supported by a forward orientated extension of the pelvic girdle,^[2] they lack barbels on the mouth and chin and they are covered in small cycloid scales arranged in horizontal or diagonal rows. Some species have a modified swim bladder and the anterior vertebrae which enables them to generate sounds. and some of these modifications are sexually dimorphic and make the fish capable of generating sound.^[3] They have two rays in each ventral fin and the caudal fin has 9 rays. Most species are benthic and occur on the continental shelf.^[4]

Ophidiinae
Ophidion barbatum, Sardinia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Ophidiiformes
Family:	Ophidiidae
Subfamily:	Ophidiinae Rafinesque, 1810[1]

Genera

The following genera are classified under the Ophidiinae:^[5]

• Cherublemma Trotter, 1926
• Chilara Jordan & Evermann, 1896
• Genypterus Philippi, 1857
• Lepophidium Gill, 1895
• Ophidion Linnaeus, 1758
• Otophidium Gill, 1885
• Parophidion Tortonese, 1954
• Raneya Robins, 1961

References

1. Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of Recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 001–230. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1. PMID 25543675.
2. Jørgen G. Nielsen; Daniel M. Cohen; Douglas F. Markle & C. Richard Robins (1999). Ophidiiform Fishes of the World (Order Ophidiiformes) An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 18. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. p. 3. ISBN 9251043752.
3. M.P. Fahey & J.A. Hare (2005). "Family Ophidiidae Subfamily Ophiniinae". In William J. Richards (ed.). Early Stages of Atlantic Fishes: An Identification Guide for the Western Central North Atlantic Volume 2. CRC Press. pp. 713–715. ISBN 0203500210. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
4. Daniel M. Cohen & Jørgen G. Nielsen (1978). NOAA Technical Report NMFS Circular 417 Guide to the Identification of Genera of the Fish Order Ophidiiformes With a Tentative Classification of the Order (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service. p. 6. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
5. Bailly N, ed. (2015). "Ophidiinae Rafinesque, 1810". FishBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 14 July 2018.