It was described in 1925 by Charles Haskins Townsend and John Treadwell Nichols on the basis of Bajacalifornia burragei[2] which was discovered in 1911 during the deep sea expedition of the research vessel USS Albatross off the coast of Todos Santos Bay at the Baja California peninsula.

[2] In 1952 Ichthyologist Albert Eide Parr published a revision of this genus.

[3] There are currently six recognized species in this genus:[4] The body is covered with small cycloid scales.

The lower jaw is strongly projected and ends in a pointed knob which is directed obliquely forwards.

[2] The distribution area ranges from the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific north to the Sea of Japan and eastwards to the East Pacific Rise.