Fingerfin

Cheilodactylids have a continuous dorsal fin which may have the anterior spiny part almost separated from the soft rayed posterior part, the spiny part contains 14–22 spines and the soft rayed part has 19–39

rays. The anal fin has 3 spines. although the third may be small and quite be difficult to see. and 7–19 soft rays. there are no teeth on the roof of or at the sides the mouth. The lowermost 4-7 pectoral fin rays of adults are normally robust, elongated, and not attached to the main part of the pectoral fin. The largest species is Dactylophora nigricans which attains a maximum total length of 120 cm (47 in).

Cheilodactylids are fishes of near-shore rocky reefs to depths of about 300 m (980 ft). They are found mainly in temperate waters in the southern hemisphere but some species classified in the subgenus Goniistius, of the genus Cheilodactylus sensu lato extend into the North Pacific.

Cheilodactylids are generally regarded as important food fish and at least one species is targeted by commercial fisheries in Australia.