The viviparous brotulas form a family, the Bythitidae, of ophidiiform fishes. They are known as viviparous brotulas as they generally bear live young, although there are indications that some species do not. They are generally infrequently seen, somewhat tadpole-like in overall shape and mostly about 5–10 cm (2–
Lucifuga is a genus of viviparous brotulas. Most of the species are native to caves and sinkholes in Cuba and the Bahamas; L. inopinata from deep water off the Galápagos Islands is the only exception. The four species rated by the IUCN are all considered vulnerable. The largest species in the genus reaches about 15 cm (5.9 in) in length.
Ogilbia is a genus of viviparous brotulas. The generic name honours the Australian naturalist James Douglas Ogilby (1853-1925), for his contribution to the knowledge of the fishes of Australia.
Alionematichthys is a genus of viviparous brotulas.
Brosmophyciops pautzkei, the slimy cuskeel or free-tailed reef brotula, is a species of viviparous brotulas found in tropical reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This species grows to 7 cm (2.8 in) total length. This species is the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours Clarence F. Pautzke, who was a former student of the describer of this species who went on to become the chief biologist in the Department of Game of Washington state and who was present on Bikini Atoll in 1946 and 1947 when the type specimen was collected.
Dermatopsis is a genus of viviparous brotulas.
Dermatopsoides is a genus of viviparous brotulas.
Diancistrus is a genus of viviparous brotulas.
Lapitaichthys frickei is a species of viviparous brotula found on reefs around New Caledonia. This species grows to a length of 4.9 centimetres (1.9 in) SL. This species is the only known member of its genus. The specific name refers to the ichthyologist Ronald Fricke of the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart while the generic name is derived from a mishearing of the local word xaapeta which means "to dig a hole" and the Greek ichthys which means "fish".
Majungaichthys is a genus of viviparous brotulas native to the western Indian Ocean. The generic name refers to Majunga in Madagascar where the type was collected.
Mascarenichthys is a genus of viviparous brotulas. They have mostly been collected from the region of Mascarene Plateau in the Indian Ocean and this is referred to in their generic name.
Microbrotula is a genus of viviparous brotulas.
Ogilbichthys is a genus of viviparous brotulas found in the central-western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. he generic name refers to the resemblance of these fish to those in the genus Ogilbia, a name honours the Australian naturalist James Douglas Ogilby (1853-1925), combined with ichthys which means "fish" in Greek.
Paradiancistrus is a genus of viviparous brotulas.
Timorichthys is a genus of viviparous brotulas so far known from the East China Sea and the Timor Sea.
Ungusurculus is a genus of viviparous brotulas found in the western Pacific Ocean.
Parasaccogaster is a genus of viviparous brotulas.
Brosmophycinae is a subfamily of the viviparous brotulas. They are divided from the subfamily Bythitinae by having the dorsal fin, caudal fin and anal fin all separate whereas they are joined in the Bythitinae. It is divided into the tribes Dinematichthyini and Brosmophycini, with the first having hardened genital claspers and the second soft genital claspers. A review in 2016 elevated the Dinematichthyini to the status of a family the Dinematichthyidae.
Bythitinae is a subfamily of viviparous brotulas, one of the two subfamilies in the family Bythitidae. This subfamily is characterised by having the dorsal, caudal and anal fins combined. They are mostly found in temperate to tropical seas, from reefs to the benthopelagic zone, but some species from the North Atlantic Ocean occur in into Arctic waters.
Didymothallus criniceps is a fish species described by Werner Schwarzhans and Møller in 2007. Didymothallus criniceps is part of the genus Didymothallus and the family Bythitidae. No subspecies are listed in the Catalog of Life.
