Snout beak-like. Anus markedly forward of mid-body, total length 3.7〜3.8 times of preanal length. Dorsal fin lower than anal fin. Dorsal fin originated above 11〜16th anal fin rays. Teeth on vomer long, saw-like, and close-set, about 35 in number. Lower branchiostegal rays forward beyond hyoid arch. Body black.
Distribution:
Atlantic Ocean.
Remarks:
The present family is represented by 3 genera. In the other 2 genera, vomerine teeth are conical. Among the 4 known species from the Atlantic, S. parabeani has whitish body, and S. brevidentatus has numerous vertical fin rays (D 175〜199; A 165〜185). The number of vertebrae of the present specimens is intermediate between those of S. beani and S. schmidti, but the number of caudal fin rays of the latter is 7 (Beebe and Crane, 1936; Bauchot-Boutin, 1954; Bauchot, 1959). (Uyeno and Sasaki)