Macrouroididae

Iwamoto, Tomio, Nakayama, Naohide, Shao, Kwang-Tsao & Table, Hsuan-Ching Ho, 2015, Synopsis of the Grenadier Fishes (Gadiformes; Teleostei) of Taiwan, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 62 (3), pp. 31-126 : 118

Family Macrouroididae

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— Head huge, rounded, with consistency of water-filled balloon; eyes tiny, diameter about 10 times into head length, placed forward of upper jaws; dorsal fin single, low; A long low; V absent ( Macrouroides ) or tiny with five short rays ( Squalogadus ); chin barbel absent; outer GR-I somewhat lathlike; first (outer) gill slit not restricted dorsally and ventrally by opercular membrane.

REMARKS.— Two genera, each with one widespread species, found in most tropical and temperate oceans.