Talitopsidae

Talitopsidae is a small and poorly known family of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii). Its taxonomic status and composition have varied among authorities; some classifications recognize Talitopsidae as a valid family, while others treat its member genera as part of related families or as incertae sedis within the teleosts. The group has been described as monogeneric in some treatments, containing a single genus and a small number of species, though this is not universally accepted.

Information on morphology is limited because only a small number of specimens have been collected. Consequently, diagnostic characters and ranges of variation are poorly defined in the literature. Members are described as small fishes with streamlined bodies and fins typical of many small coastal teleosts; however, detailed descriptions have not been widely published.

Distribution and habitat data are sparse. Records point to a marine distribution in warm seas, with occurrences mainly in coastal or reef-associated habitats; depth preferences are incompletely known.

Ecology and reproductive biology remain poorly understood. No species within Talitopsidae has been of commercial importance, and basic life-history information is lacking.

Taxonomic placement remains unsettled; some classifications place Talitopsidae within broader teleost radiations, while others treat it as monotypic or as a synonym of related groups. Molecular data are limited, and future studies may clarify its relationships.

References: FishBase; World Register of Marine Species.