The fish family Psychrolutidae contains over 35 recognized species in 8 genera. This family consists of bottom-dwelling marine sculpins shaped like tadpoles, with large heads and bodies that taper back into small, flat tails. The skin is loosely attached and movable, and the layer underneath it is gelatinous. The eyes are placed high on the head, focused forward closer to the tip of the snout. Members of the family generally have large, leaf-like pectoral fins and lack scales, although some species are covered with soft spines. This is important to the species as the depths in which they live are highly pressurized and they are ambush/opportunistic/foraging predators that do not expend energy unless they are forced to.
Antipodocottus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the western Pacific Ocean. This is the only genus of Cottids represented in the Southern Hemisphere, although their classification in the Cottidae is not universally accepted.
Argyrocottus is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. Its only species is Argyrocottus zanderi which is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean from Japan to the Kuril Islands and in the Sea of Japan. It is found at depths of from 0 to 85 metres. This species grows to a standard length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in). This taxon was first formally described in 1892 by the Russian zoologist Solomon Herzenstein with its type locality given as Korsakov on Sakhalin in the Sea of Okhotsk. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Argyrocottus within the subfamily Cottinae of the family Cottidae, however, other authors classify the genus within the subfamily Myoxocephalinae of the family Psychrolutidae. although others place the subfamily Myoxocephalinae within the Cottidae.
The Blackfin hookear sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Artediellichthys. This species is found in the northern Pacific Ocean. It occurs at depths of from 200 to 815 metres. This species grows to a total length of 13.7 cm (5.4 in).
Bero elegans is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. This species grows to a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. It is the only known member of the genus Bero.
Bolinia is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This taxon is endemic to the northern Pacific Ocean around the Aleutian Islands of Amukta, Carlisle, and Semisopochnoi. It is found at depths of between 201 to 410 metres. This species grows to a length of 18.9 centimetres (7.4 in) SL. The only species in the genus is Bolinia euryptera.
Furcina is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean from around Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The lavender sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Ocynectes is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in tidepools in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Porocottus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northern and northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Pseudoblennius is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Radulinus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Rastrinus is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the "typical" sculpins. The only species in the genus is Rastrinus scutiger which is found from the Gulf of Alaska to the Bering Sea in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It is a deep water species, occurring at depths of from 100 to 740 metres, most commonly found at 200 to 300 metres. This species grows to a length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in) total length.
Sigmistes is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northern Pacific Ocean.
Stelgistrum is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northern Pacific Ocean.
The sponge sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Thyriscus. This fish is found in the northern Pacific Ocean where it is found at depths from 100 to 800 m though usually in the range of 300 to 400 m. This species grows to a maximum published total length of 14.5 cm (5.7 in).
Vellitor is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in seawedd beds in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Zesticelus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the North Pacific Ocean.
Cottunculus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Psychrolutidae. These fishes are found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.
The spinynose sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska south to Washington and the San Juan Islands. The spinynose sculpin is the only species in the monospecific genus Asemichthys. This sculpin lays its eggs on the egg masses of the buffalo sculpin, thought to be a strategy to take advantage of the larger fish’s egg guarding behaviour.
