See text Agonidae is a family of small, bottom-dwelling, cold-water marine fish.

Common names for members of this family include poachers, Irish lords, sea ravens, alligatorfishes, starsnouts, hooknoses, and rockheads.

They are notable for having elongated bodies covered by scales modified into bony plates, and for using their large pectoral fins to move in short bursts.

The pelvic fins are nearly vestigial, typically consisting of one small spine and a few rays.

Agonidae species generally feed on small crustaceans and marine worms found on the bottom.