Hemitripterinae species are called sea ravens because early zoologists posited that their large pectoral fins may be used to fly in the air. Another name is sailfin sculpins, referring to their tall
dorsal fins, in particular the very tall first dorsal fin of
Nautichthys oculofasciatus. Their head and body are clothed with tiny "prickles", these being modified, platelike scales each having one spine which is covered in skin. The frontoparietal ridge is knobby. The
preoperculum has 3 or 4 spines which are mainly blunt and covered in skin. There are two dorsal fins, the first is supported by between 6 and 19 spines, the second by 11 to 30 soft rays. there are between 11 and 22 soft rays supporting the
anal fin and the
pectoral fin has a single spine and 3 soft rays. The lateral line canal is complete and contains more than 35 pores. They have both vomerine and palatine teeth. The gill membrane has a wide attachment to the isthmus and forms a fold across the throat. They do not have a swim bladder, In some species the males have external genital papilla. They have bands and other markings but the coloration can vary with habitat. They vary in maximum size from a
total length of in the
shortmast sculpin (
Nautichthys robustus) to around in the
bigmouth sculpin (
Hemitripterus bolini). ==Distribution and habitat==