Post-temporal closely adnate to the skull; soft dorsal and anal short (with only 7 to 10 rays) .......... 7. Callionymidae.
Post-temporal simple, articulated to the skull; soft dorsal and anal short; a ventral sucker .......... 8. Gobiesocidae.
II. Pectoral rays all attached to the pterygials, of which two or three are in contact with the scapula; ventral fins, if present, jugular or mental, composed of 1 to 4 rays.
A. Ventrals jugular or absent.
Post-temporal distinctly forked; praecaudal vertebrae with transverse processes; some or all of the dorsal rays spinous or not articulated; caudal fin usually distinct .......... 9. Blenniidae.
Post-temporal small and ankylosed to the skull; praecaudal vertebrae without well-developed transverse processes; a very short spinous dorsal; caudal fin distinct .......... 10. Batrachidae.
Post-temporal distinctly forked; praecaudal vertebrae with haemal arches; dorsal rays all spinous; caudal fin distinct .......... 11. Pholididae.
Post-temporal distinctly forked; praecaudal vertebrae with transverse processes; dorsal rays all articulated, or a few of the posterior spinous; no distinct caudal fin .......... 12. Zoarcidae.
Post-temporal forked, ankylosed to the skull; praecaudal vertebrae with transverse processes; no spines; no distinct caudal fin .......... 13. Congrogadidae
B. Ventrals mental (just behind the chin); no spines .......... 14. Ophidiidae.