Eelpout

The eelpouts are the ray-finned fishfamilyZoarcidae. As the common name suggests, they are somewhat eel-like in appearance. All of the 300 species are marine and mostly bottom-dwelling, some at great depths. Eelpouts are predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere. The Arctic, north Pacific and north Atlantic oceans have the highest concentration of species; however, species are found around the globe.

They are conventionally placed in the "perciform" assemblage; in fact, the Zoarcoidei seem to be specialized members of the Gasterosteiformes-Scorpaeniformes group of Acanthopterygii.

The largest member of the family is Zoarces americanus, which may reach 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) in length. Other notable genera include Lycodapus and Gymnelus.