Histiophryninae

Histiophryninae, the star-fingered frogfishes, is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The species in this family are found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

Taxonomy
Histiophryninae was first proposed as a subfamily by Theodore a Wells Pietsch III and Rachel J. Arnold in 2012. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise this subfamily within the Antennariidae. Other authorities classify this grouping as a full family, the Histiophrynidae. The monospecific genus Tathicarpus is the most derived member of this grouping and represents a separate lineage from all other frogfishes, leading to some consideration of it being placed in its own family, the Tathicarpidae. The Antennariidae is classified within the suborder Antennarioidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes. As part of the family Antennariidae, this taxon is regarded, with the sister taxon to the Antennariidae, the Tetrabrachiidae as the most derived clade within the suborder Antennarioidei.

Etymology
Histiophryninae, has its name derived from Histiophryne, its type genus. this combines histio, meaaning "sail", an allusion the author of the name, Theodore Gill, did not explain but it may refer to the long soft-rayed dorsal fin which is connected to the caudal fin. The secon part is phryne, which means "toad", a suffix commonly used in the names of anglerfish genera, dating back to Aristotle and Cicero, who called anglerfishes "fishing frogs" or sea frogs".

Genera
Histiophryninae contains the following genera:

Characteristics
Histiophryinae are distinguished from the Antennarinae by the loss of the mesopterygoid and epural. However, the major difference is in the ovaries and the reproductive strategies shown by these fishes. The Histiophryinae have simple oval shaped ovaries while those of Antennariinae have ovaries which are shaped like a double scroll. Histiophryins do not undergo metamorphosis and the eggs and young are given some amount of parental care whereas Anntenariids are broadcast spawners. Generally, Histiophryin frogfishes are small fishes, the largest species is Glauert's anglerfish (Allenchthys glauerti) with a maximum published total length of 11 cm while the smallest species is Hutchins' anglerfish (Lophiocharon hutchinsi) with a maximum published standard length of 4.9 cm.

Distribution
Histiophryinae frogfishes are endemic to the seas around Australia.