Melanonus, g. n. Gadid.

Head and body rather compressed, covered with cycloid scales of moderate size, and terminating in a long tapering tail, without caudal. Eye of moderate size; mouth anterior and lateral; both jaws with narrow bands of villiform teeth; vomer and palatines with very narrow stripes of minute teeth. Barbel none. One short anterior dorsal; the second commences immediately behind the first, and has the anterior rays well developed; it is continued to the end of the tail. Anal like the second dorsal. The outer gill-rakers of the first branchial arch strong and long, longer than the gill-laminie. Ventrals composed of several rays, slightly in advance of the pectorals. Bones flexible; mucous cavities of the head small.

Allied to Strinsia, but with different dentition.