This is the eighteenth volume in the FAO series of worldwide annotated and illustrated catalogues of the groups of marine organisms that enter marine fisheries. This volume covers all 93 genera currently recognized in the order Ophidiiformes (pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and allies). It includes a glossary of technical terms, general remarks on the order, identification keys from the suborder to the species level, detailed genera accounts, and a table of species by major fishing areas. In addition, ten species of interest to fisheries are treated in illustrated accounts. The work is fully indexed and there is a comprehensive list of references to pertinent literature.