Ophidiinae is a subfamily of the cusk eelfamilyOphidiidae. 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]
^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. ISBN9251043752.
^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. ISBN0203500210. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
