Nautichthys

Nautichthys
Sailfin sculpin (N. oculofasciatus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Cottoidei
Family: Nautichthyidae
Taranetz, 1941
Genus: Nautichthys
Girard, 1858
Type species
Blepsias oculofasciatus
Girard, 1858[1]
Synonyms[1]

Nautichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes. They are the only members of the family Nautichthyidae, the sailfin sculpins.[2][3] These fishes are found in the North Pacific Ocean.

They were previously placed in the subfamily Hemitripterinae which is part of the family Agonidae, but a 2026 study found it to form a distinct clade together with Hemilepidotus and Hemitripteridae, and morphologically distinct enough to deserve its own family.[2][3]

Species

There are currently three recognized species in this genus:[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Nautichthyidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  2. ^ a b Vandenberg, Megan L.; Heiple, Zach; Kolmann, Matthew A.; Buser, Thaddaeus; Summers, Adam P.; Meléndez-Vazquez, Fernando; Arcila, Dahiana; Maslenikov, Katherine P.; Tornabene, Luke (2026-04-01). "Phylogenomics of poachers (Agonidae) and the evolution of armor in cottoid fishes (Perciformes: Cottoidei)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 217 108552. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2026.108552. ISSN 1055-7903.
  3. ^ a b Fricke, R.; Eschmeyer, W. N.; Van der Laan, R. (2026). "Eschmeyer's Catalogue of Fishes: Classification". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Nautichthys". FishBase. December 2012 version.