Anisochrominae Congrogadinae Pseudochrominae Pseudoplesiopinae The dottybacks are a family, Pseudochromidae, of fishes which were formerly classified in the order Perciformes, but this has been revised and the family is regarded as of uncertain affinities, or incertae sedis within the Ovalentaria, a clade within the Percomorpha.

[2] They are found in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, where most inhabit coral reefs.

Many species are brightly coloured fish, often showing striking sexual dimorphism.

[4][5] Dottybacks are distinguished from other families by the presence of three or less spines in the dorsal fin and an incomplete lateral line organ.

[3] Several of the brightly coloured members of the family are often seen in the marine aquarium trade, although some species are aggressively territorial.