Otophysic

Melanoids were formerly placed in the family Moridae; however, they lack an otophysic connection and X-Y caudal bones, and, therefore, are considered to be a separate family (Marshall 1965).

The common features among these species are that (1) the bilateral input originates in whole or in part from the otolithic end organ that is at the point of coupling between the inner ear and a gas-filled structure, and (2) this otophysic coupling is paired.