Key to subfamilies of the family Cyclopteridae

1a. First dorsal fin inconspicuous, completely embedded under skin...................................... Liparopsinae

1b. First dorsal fin conspicuous (except for adults in some species with very low and mostly buried first dorsal fin; see Mecklen- burg et al., 2002)......................................................................................2

2a. Body generally high due to well-developed dorsal crest; first dorsal fin covered with very thick skin........ Cyclopterinae

2b. Body usually globose; first dorsal fin covered with relatively thin skin.................... Eumicrotreminae subfam. nov.