<p>The chaunacids are one of the more recognizable lophiiform families, with large globose heads, a conspicuous network of open sensory canals, and a single open lateral&ndash;line canal extending posteriorly along a moderately compressed trunk and tail. The angling apparatus consists of a short illicium with a terminal esca comprised of a dense cluster of short cirri. The family contains two genera and 15 species. Chaunacids live a benthic lifestyle at depths ranging from 90 to over 2000 m. Researchers at the <a href="http://oceanica.cofc.edu/" target="_blank">College of Charleston</a> recently captured a red-eyed gaper (<em>Chaunax stigmaeus</em>) on <a href="http://oceanica.cofc.edu/multimedia/Video/Slide9.htm" target="_blank">video</a> sitting on the seafloor off South Carolina, U.S.A.<br /> </p> <p>Chaunacids are occasionally caught as bycatch in commercial fishery operations; however, with the exception of some regions in eastern Asia, chaunacids are not marketed for human consumption.</p>