Other identification tools | FishBase

Fish Identification: Find Species


Family: Liparidae Snailfishes



(See list of species below)


Select Class:     Select Order:   
Select Family: Subfamily:     Select Genus:
Select Ocean (marine/brackish) or Continent (freshwater):
Select a country:
Only include species occuring above: m
Total number of spines in dorsal and anal fins (optional).      Enter total length (TL) and maximum body depth (BD)
Show family drawing(s)



425 species (see list below)
Export file

1 of 2 Next Jump to:

Sort by: Species Length Year
1 of 2 Next Jump to:
Export file
n = 425

Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Acantholiparis caecus Northeast Pacific 5.7 SL 1969
Acantholiparis opercularis Spiny snailfish North Pacific 7 SL 1912
Aetheliparis taurocanis Southwest Pacific 3.2 SL 2012
Allocareproctus jordani Cherry snailfish Northwest Pacific 34 TL 1930
Allocareproctus kallaion Combed snailfish Northeast Pacific 19.5 SL 2006
Allocareproctus tanix Peach snailfish North Pacific 7.8 SL 2006
Allocareproctus unangas Goldeneye snailfish North Pacific 13.0 SL 2006
Allocareproctus ungak Whiskered snailfish Northeast Pacific 12.9 SL 2006
Careproctus abbreviatus North Pacific 1930
Careproctus acaecus Appendageless snailfish Southwest Atlantic 5.5 SL 1991
Careproctus acanthodes Northwest Pacific 10.7 SL 1912
Careproctus aciculipunctatus Northeast Atlantic 21 TL 1997
Careproctus acifer Southern Ocean 10.8 SL 1998
Careproctus aculeolatus Small-spine snailfish Southwest Atlantic 11.4 TL 1991
Careproctus albescens Southeast Atlantic 23 TL 1927
Careproctus ambustus Scorched snailfish North Pacific 41 SL 2020
Careproctus ampliceps Southern Ocean 10.2 TL 1998
Careproctus armatus Southwest Atlantic 1991
Careproctus atakamensis Southeast Pacific 4.7 SL 1998
Careproctus atrans Southwest Atlantic 7.5 TL 1991
Careproctus attenuatus North Pacific 1912
Careproctus aureomarginatus Marginate snailfish Southwest Atlantic 6 SL 1991
Careproctus bathycoetus Northwest Pacific 16 SL 1912
Careproctus batialis Northwest Pacific. 16 TL 1933
Careproctus bowersianus Northeast Pacific 15.6 SL 1912
Careproctus brevipectoralis Short-finned snailfish Kuril Basin of the Sea of 15 SL 2020
Careproctus cactiformis Southwest Atlantic 1990
Careproctus canus Northwest Pacific 15.9 SL 1985
Careproctus carinatus Keel-belly tadpolefish Arctic 13.1 TL 2015
Careproctus catherinae Southern Ocean 21.6 SL 1998
Careproctus colletti Alaska snailfish North Pacific 44 TL 1896
Careproctus comus Comic snailfish Northeast Pacific 9.9 SL 2007
Careproctus continentalis Southeast Pacific 6.2 SL 1990
Careproctus credispinulosus Southern Ocean 1990
Careproctus crozetensis Antarctic, Indian Ocean 10.0 SL 2007
Careproctus curilanus Northwest Pacific 6.4 SL 1912
Careproctus cyclocephalus Northwest Pacific 29 SL 1983
Careproctus cypseluroides Northwest Pacific 1950
Careproctus cypselurus Falcate snailfish North Pacific 32.3 SL 1898
Careproctus derjugini Deryugin's tadpole Arctic to Northeast Atlan 21.7 SL 2005
Careproctus discoveryae Indian Ocean, Antarctic 7.0 SL 2007
Careproctus dubius Northeast Atlantic 1911
Careproctus ectenes Shovelhead snailfish Northeast Pacific 6.4 SL 1896
Careproctus eltaninae Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus falklandicus Southeast Pacific 1905
Careproctus faunus Mischievous snailfish Northeast Pacific 10.2 SL 2007
Careproctus fedorovi Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus filamentosus Northeast Pacific 18 SL 1978
Careproctus furcellus North Pacific 54 SL 1912
Careproctus georgianus Southern Ocean 1905
Careproctus gilberti Smalldisk snailfish Northeast Pacific 8.9 TL 1912
Careproctus globulus Globular snailfish Pacific Ocean 4.3 SL 2020
Careproctus guillemi Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus homopterus Northwest Pacific 4.3 SL 1912
Careproctus hyaleius Eastern Pacific 12.3 TL 1994
Careproctus improvisus Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus inflexidens Southern Ocean 22 TL 1998
Careproctus kamikawai Arbiter Snailfish Eastern Pacific 17.5 TL 2012
Careproctus karaensis Kara tadpolefish Arctic 14.2 TL 2015
Careproctus kidoi Kido's snailfish Northwest Atlantic 9.5 SL 2008
Careproctus knipowitschi Knipowitsch's tadpole Northeast Atlantic 18.5 TL 2005
Careproctus lacmi Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus lacrima Teardrop snailfish Northeast Pacific 6 SL 2021
Careproctus laperousei Laperouse snailfish Northwestern Pacific 12 SL 2020
Careproctus latiosus Broad-mouth tadpole Arctic Ocean 9.8 TL 2011
Careproctus leptorhinus Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus lerikimae Alaska 2015
Careproctus longifilis Stippled snailfish Eastern Pacific 16.2 SL 1892
Careproctus longipectoralis Southern Ocean 16.8 SL 1992
Careproctus longipinnis Longfin snailfish Northeast Atlantic 27 NG 1912
Careproctus lycopersicus Tomato Snailfish North Pacific 17.2 TL 2012
Careproctus macranchus Southwest Atlantic 1991
Careproctus macrodiscus Northwest Pacific 44 SL 1950
Careproctus macrophthalmus Large-eyed tadpole Northeast Atlantic 10.9 TL 2005
Careproctus maculosus Southwest Atlantic 4.6 SL 2006
Careproctus magellanicus Southern Ocean 2000
Careproctus marginatus Northwest Pacific 23.5 SL 1988
Careproctus maslenikovae Blushing snailfish Northeast Pacific 4.0 SL 2021
Careproctus mederi Northwest Pacific 1916
Careproctus melanuroides Northwest Pacific 1950
Careproctus melanurus Blacktail snailfish North Pacific 54 TL 1892
Careproctus merretti Merret's snailfish Northeast Atlantic 20.5 SL 1988
Careproctus mica Babbie tadpolefish Arctic 7.8 TL 2015
Careproctus micropus Northeast Atlantic 8.2 SL 1887
Careproctus microstomus Northeast Pacific 19.7 SL 1978
Careproctus minimus Southwest Atlantic 1998
Careproctus mollis Northeast Pacific 7.4 SL 1912
Careproctus moskalevi Moskalev’s tadpole Arctic Ocean 9 TL 2011
Careproctus narilobus South Pacific Ocean 16.3 TL 2012
Careproctus nigricans Northwest Pacific 17.3 SL 1950
Careproctus notosaikaiensis Notosaikai-bikunin Pacific Ocean 18.2 TL 2011
Careproctus novaezelandiae Southwest Pacific 9.5 SL 1990
Careproctus opisthotremus North Pacific 5 TL 1912
Careproctus oregonensis Smallfin snailfish Northeast Pacific 15.3 SL 1978
Careproctus ostentum North Pacific 1896
Careproctus ovigerus Abyssal snailfish Northeast Pacific 43.1 SL 1896
Careproctus pallidus Southeast Pacific 1888
Careproctus parvidiscus Northwest Pacific 17.7 SL 2002
Careproctus parviporatus Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus patagonicus Southwest Atlantic 2000
Careproctus paxtoni Blunt-tooth snailfish Southwest Pacific 14.4 SL 2001
Careproctus pellucicauda Pacific Ocean 12.6 SL 2012
Careproctus phasma North Pacific 1896
Careproctus polarsterni Southern Ocean 1992
Careproctus profundicola Southern Ocean 14.1 SL 1992
Careproctus pseudoprofundicola Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus pulcher Handsome snailfish Pacific Ocean 11 SL 2020
Careproctus pycnosoma North Pacific 7.9 SL 1912
Careproctus ranula Scotian snailfish Northern Atlantic 8.1 SL 1879
Careproctus rastrinoides Northwest Pacific 1950
Careproctus rastrinus Salmon snailfish Northeast Pacific 51 SL 1912
Careproctus reinhardti Sea tadpole Arctic 30 TL 1862
Careproctus rhodomelas Northwest Pacific 12 SL 1912
Careproctus rimiventris Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus rosa Rose tadpolefish Arctic 14.3 TL 2015
Careproctus roseofuscus Round snailfish Northwest Pacific 35 SL 1912
Careproctus rotundifrons Northwest Pacific 104.4 SL 2008
Careproctus sandwichensis Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus scaphopterus Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus scottae Northeast Pacific 1934
Careproctus segaliensis Northwest Pacific 6.9 SL 1912
Careproctus seraphimae Northwest Pacific 1950
Careproctus simus North Pacific 18.6 SL 1896
Careproctus sinensis Northwest Pacific 5.9 SL 1912
Careproctus solidus Thickset tadpole Arctic and Northeast Atla 11.8 SL 1999
Careproctus spectrum Northeast Pacific 1890
Careproctus spiraki Pimpled snailfish Northeast Pacific 5.5 SL 2021
Careproctus steini Southeast Pacific 1990
Careproctus stigmatogenus Southwest Atlantic 4.7 SL 2006
Careproctus surugaensis Suruga snailfsh Northwest Pacific 8.3 SL 2017
Careproctus tapirus Tapir tadpole Northeast Atlantic 13.9 SL 2005
Careproctus telescopus Telescope tadpole Northeast Atlantic 14 TL 2005
Careproctus trachysoma Northwest Pacific 31 SL 1912
Careproctus tricapitidens Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus uter Drop-shaped tadpolefish Arctic 2015
Careproctus vladibeckeri Southern Ocean 1998
Careproctus zachirus Northwest Pacific 32 TL 1985
Careproctus zispi Southern Ocean 1998
Crystallias matsushimae Northwest Pacific 38 TL 1902
Crystallichthys cameliae North Pacific 1965
Crystallichthys cyclospilus Blotched snailfish North Pacific 1912
Crystallichthys mirabilis North Pacific 1898
Edentoliparis terraenovae Southeast Pacific 7.1 SL 1916
Eknomoliparis chirichignoae Southeast Pacific 1991
Elassodiscus caudatus Blackbelly snailfish Eastern Pacific 8.5 SL 1915
Elassodiscus obscurus Northwest Pacific 28.6 SL 1993
Elassodiscus tremebundus North Pacific 34.3 SL 1912
Eutelichthys leptochirus Mediterranean Sea 5.1 SL 1959
Genioliparis ferox Northeast Pacific 24 TL 1978
Genioliparis kafanovi Antarctic 34 SL 2008
Genioliparis lindbergi Southern Ocean 31 TL 1976
Gyrinichthys minytremus Minigill snailfish Northeast Pacific 1896
Liparis adiastolus Northeast Pacific 16.7 SL 2003
Liparis agassizii North Pacific 44 TL 1874
Liparis alboventer Northwest Pacific 14.1 TL 1984
Liparis antarcticus Southeast Pacific 3.8 TL 1874
Liparis atlanticus Atlantic seasnail Northwest Atlantic 13 TL 1898
Liparis barbatus Sea-snail Northeast Atlantic 13.3 1833
Liparis bathyarcticus North Pacific and the Arc 14 TL 1931
Liparis bikunin Northwest Pacific 7 SL 1954
Liparis brashnikovi Northwest Pacific 15 TL 1930
Liparis bristolensis North Pacific 1912
Liparis burkei Northwest Pacific 8.3 SL 1914
Liparis callyodon Spotted snailfish Eastern Pacific 12.7 TL 1814
Liparis catharus Purity snailfish Northeast Pacific 1973
Liparis chefuensis Northwest Pacific 16.5 TL 1933
Liparis coheni Gulf snailfish Northwest Atlantic 11.8 TL 1976
Liparis curilensis Northwest Pacific 11 TL 1912
Liparis cyclopus Ribbon snailfish North Pacific 11.4 TL 1861
Liparis dennyi Marbled snailfish Eastern Pacific 30.5 TL 1895
Liparis dubius Northwest Pacific 1930
Liparis dulkeiti Northwest Pacific 1930
Liparis eos Northwest Pacific 13.7 TL 1984
Liparis fabricii Gelatinous snailfish North Atlantic 21 TL 1847
Liparis fishelsoni Western Indian Ocean 1967
Liparis florae Tidepool snailfish Eastern Pacific 18.3 TL 1895
Liparis frenatus Northwest Pacifc 7.8 SL 1912
Liparis fucensis Slipskin snailfish Eastern Pacific 18 TL 1896
Liparis gibbus Variegated snailfish Arctic, Northwest to Nort 52 TL 1881
Liparis grebnitzkii Northwest Pacific 8.4 TL 1904
Liparis greeni Lobefin snailfish Pacific Ocean 31 TL 1895
Liparis inquilinus Inquiline snailfish Northwest Atlantic 7.1 TL 1973
Liparis kusnetzovi Northwest Pacific 1936
Liparis kussakini Northwest Pacific 1976
Liparis latifrons Northwest Pacific 23.3 SL 1950
Liparis liparis Striped seasnail Northeast Atlantic 15 TL 1766
Liparis maculatus Northwest Pacific 1984
Liparis marmoratus Festive snailfish North Pacific 1950
Liparis mednius Northwest Pacific 9.2 SL 1930
Liparis megacephalus Bighead snailfish North Pacific 1912
Liparis meridionalis Northwest Pacific 10.4 TL 1950
Liparis micraspidophorus North Pacific 1912
Liparis miostomus Northwest Pacific 9.3 SL 1954
Liparis montagui Montagus seasnail Northeast Atlantic 15.5 TL 1804
Liparis mucosus Slimy snailfish Northeast Pacific 13 TL 1855
Liparis newmani Northwest Pacific 1960
Liparis ochotensis North Pacific 66 FL 1904
Liparis owstoni Northwest Pacific 43 TL 1904
Liparis petschiliensis Northwest Pacific 1926
Liparis pravdini Northwest Pacific 1951
Liparis pulchellus Showy snailfish Northeast Pacific 25 TL 1855
Liparis punctatus Northwest Pacific 1950
Liparis punctulatus Northwest Pacific 70 TL 1916
Liparis rhodosoma Western Pacific 1930
Liparis rotundirostris Northwest Pacific 14.8 TL 1984
Liparis rutteri Ringtail snailfish North Pacific 7 SL 1898
Liparis schantarensis Shantar snailfish Northwest Pacific 7.4 TL 1929
Liparis schmidti Northwest Pacific 8.4 TL 1987
Liparis tanakae Tanaka's snailfish Northwest Pacific 56.3 TL 1912
Liparis tartaricus Northwest Pacific 7 TL 1930
Liparis tessellatus Northwest Pacific 28 SL 1912
Liparis tunicatiformis Northwest Pacific 27.4 TL 1984
Liparis tunicatus Kelp snailfish Arctic to Northwest Atlan 16 TL 1836
Liparis zonatus Northwest Pacific 2004
Lipariscus nanus Pygmy snailfish North Pacific 7.1 SL 1915
Lopholiparis flerxi Hardhead snailfish Northeast Pacific 3.3 SL 2004
Menziesichthys bacescui Southeast Pacific 1971
Nectoliparis pelagicus Tadpole snailfish North Pacific 6.5 SL 1912
Notoliparis antonbruuni Southeastern Pacific 2005
Notoliparis kermadecensis Southwest Pacific 25.8 SL 1964
Notoliparis kurchatovi Kurchatov's notoliparis Southern Ocean 10.8 SL 1975
Notoliparis macquariensis Macquarie notoliparid Southwest Pacific 8.8 SL 1978
Osteodiscus andriashevi Northwest Pacific 17.5 SL 1990
Osteodiscus cascadiae Bigtail snailfish Northeast Pacific 8.5 SL 1978
Osteodiscus rhepostomias Southwest Pacific 4 SL 2012
Palmoliparis beckeri Gloved snailfish Northwest Pacific 42 TL 1996
Paraliparis abyssorum Northeast Atlantic 11.3 SL 1997
Paraliparis acutidens Atlantic, Antartic 13.2 TL 2006
Paraliparis adustus Northwest Pacific 15 SL 2009
Paraliparis albeolus Northwest Pacific 1950
Paraliparis albescens Eastern Central Pacific 1915
Paraliparis alius Southern Ocean 33 TL 2012
Paraliparis amerismos Southern Ocean 3.6 TL 2012
Paraliparis andriashevi Southern Ocean 1989
Paraliparis antarcticus Southern Ocean 16.3 SL 1914
Paraliparis anthracinus Coalskin snailfish Eastern Indian Ocean 13.3 SL 2001
Paraliparis aspersus Southwest Atlantic 1992
Paraliparis ater Sooty snailfish Eastern Indian Ocean 12.4 SL 2001
Paraliparis atramentatus Northwest Pacific 6.9 SL 1912
Paraliparis atrolabiatus Darklip snailfish Eastern Indian Ocean 11.4 SL 2001
Paraliparis attenuatus Eastern Central Pacific 1899
Paraliparis auriculatus Smallcheek snailfish Eastern Indian Ocean 13.1 SL 2001
Paraliparis australiensis Australian snailfish Southeastern Indian Ocean 16.4 SL 2001
Paraliparis australis Southeast Atlantic 5 TL 1902
Paraliparis avellaneus Nutty snailfish Eastern Indian Ocean 13.2 SL 2001
Paraliparis badius Dark brown snailfish Eastern Indian Ocean 8.2 SL 2001
Paraliparis balgueriasi Southern Ocean 12.6 TL 1999
Paraliparis bathybius Black seasnail Arctic to Northeast Atlan 25.3 SL 1879
Paraliparis bipolaris North Atlantic 9.2 SL 1997
Paraliparis brunneocaudatus Browntail snailfish Eastern Indian Ocean 12.7 SL 2001



Other identification tools in FishBase


Quick Identification
Identification keys
Identification by morphometrics
Identification by pictures:
          If you already know the Family, go to Search FishBase, select Family and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the family.

          If you already know the Country, go to Search FishBase, select Country and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the country.

          If you already know the Ecosystem, go to Search FishBase, select Ecosystem and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the ecosystem.
cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013