ABSTRACT
The family Phycidae is comprised of 27 species in five genera (Nelson 1994). This family was recognized at the subfamily level by Markle (1982), and later as a separate family by Cohen (1984) and Markle (1989). However, some taxonomic confusion remains within the Gadiformes, and Endo (2002) proposed assigning most of the phycids to the subfamily level Phycinae. Subsequently, Enchelyopus has been placed in the Gaidropsaridae, but we consider it herein. Phycids are benthic, mostly on soft bottom, and are found primarily in the Atlantic, but also occur off South Africa, New Zealand and Japan (Markle, 1982). Seven species of Urophycis (Gill), collectively referred to as ‘hakes’, and a single species of Enchelyopus (Bloch & Schneider), one of the rocklings, are found on the continental shelf and slope of the western central Atlantic Ocean (Svetovidov 1948, Wenner 1983, Cohen et al. 1990). These species are: U. chesteri (Goode & Bean), U. chuss (Walbaum), U. cirrata (Goode & Bean), U. earlli (Bean), U. floridana (Bean & Dresel), U. regia (Walbaum), U. tennis (Mitchill), and E. cimbrius (Linnaeus). Hakes have two dorsal fins and one anal fin, each of which lack spines, and neither of which are connected to the caudal fin. The pelvic fin has two highly elongated rays (three rays in larvae), and barbels are present on the chin but not on the snout. Rocklings have 3 dorsal fins (first is a thickened unsegmented ray), 2-4 barbels on the snout, and a chin barbel (Cohen 1990). Phycids have small cycloid scales, and adults have highly specialized otoliths that are characterized by having a completely fused ostium and cauda (Nolf & Steurbaut 1989).
