The superfamily comprises 2 families, the Cyclopteridae, the lumpsuckers, of the cool northern seas and the widespread Liparidae, the snailfishes.

A common feature shared by these families is that they typically have the pelvic fins modified to form a disc shaped sucker.

Cyclopteroidea was first proposed as a taxonomic grouping in 1873 by the American biologist Theodore Gill to include the Cycopteridae and the Liparidae as relatives of the Cottidae.

[2] Other authorities do not recognise the superfamily and classify the two families, Cyclopteridae and Liparidae, within the infraorder Cottales alongside the sculpins, within the order Perciformes.

[2] Cyclopteroidea are widely distributed, especially the snailfishes in the family Liparidae which are found throughout the world's seas and are an important component of the fish fauna of the Southern Ocean and they are found in a wide range of habitats and depths, including very deep water.