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Synanceiidae

Synanceiidae, the stonefishes, are a family of ray-finned fish in the order Perciformes, found in the Indo-Pacific region. They are close relatives of the scorpionfishes, with both placed in the suborder Scorpaenoidei. Many members of this family, most famously the subfamily Synanceiinae, are venomous. A majority of species in this family are marine, but some such as Notesthes robusta inhabit freshwater habitats.

All synanceiids share the unique defense mechanism of a "lachrymal saber", a switchblade-like spine found under each eye (being attached to the lachrymal bone) that can be projected forwards via movement of the maxilla.

Taxonomy

Some members of this family, such as the unusual Gnathanacanthinae and Eschmeyerinae, were formerly treated as their own distinct families, while the Synanceiinae themselves were treated as a subfamily of the Scorpaenidae. However, phylogenetic evidence suggests that all these clades are closely related to one another, and Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes presently treats them as subfamilies of the family Synanceiidae.

The following genera are classified in this family, based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes:

References