Zoarcidae

Zoarcidae, commonly known as eelpouts, is a diverse family of ray-finned fishes that includes many genera and hundreds of species. They are found in cold temperate and polar seas worldwide, with particularly high diversity in the Arctic and North Pacific. Eelpouts are predominantly benthic, occupying habitats from shallow coastal zones and tide pools to deep-sea bottoms on rocky, sandy, and muddy substrates.

Morphology and description: Members of this family typically have elongated, eel-like bodies with a dorsal fin that often extends along much of the body and an attached or continuous anal and caudal fin. They generally possess small to moderate scales and well-developed dentition suited to predation. Size ranges widely among species, but most are small to medium in length, with a number reaching only a few tens of centimeters.

Ecology and behavior: Eelpouts are carnivorous or omnivorous bottom dwellers, feeding on a variety of invertebrates—such as crustaceans and mollusks—and small fishes. Many species are well adapted to cold environments and some inhabit deep-sea habitats. Reproduction in Zoarcidae is typically oviparous; eggs are laid in nests or attached to substrate, and in many species the male provides parental care by guarding the eggs until hatch.

Taxonomy and systematics: The family is characterized by the type genus Zoarces and encompasses multiple genera. In modern classifications, Zoarcidae is placed within different orders depending on the taxonomic framework used (for example, Scorpaeniformes or Perciformes in older systems), reflecting ongoing revisions in ray-finned fish phylogeny.