Genus Cristiceps

An endemic Australian genus with three species, having a slender body (19-23% SL) and an extremely slender caudal peduncle. Other characters include a short snout about equal in length to the eye diameter; eyes of moderate size (4‑6% SL); gill rakers simple; circumorbital pores uniserial; lateral-line scales extending from behind head to end of caudal peduncle, anterior lateral-line scales overlapping, each with a median posterior pore, posterior lateral-line scales not overlapping, each with a midlateral pore at either end; dorsal fin in 2 parts, 1st dorsal short, elevated, originating on head, 2nd dorsal long-based  and rather uniform in height, originating over rear half of operculum; anal-fin membrane weakly incised, last anal-fin ray narrowly connected to caudal peduncle; caudal fin long.