Family OPLEGNATHIDAE

Knifejaws are rather deep‑bodied fishes with teeth of adults fused to form a beak similar to those of parrotfishes; scales small, finely ctenoid, covering body and head; dorsal fin continuous and elongate, but variously developed in different species; anal fin similar and opposite soft part of dorsal fin; pectoral fins of moderate size, upper rays longest, upper corner of fin pointed; ventral fins below pectoral‑fin base, spine strong.