How many recognized genera make up the entire family *Anarhichadidae*?
Answer
Four recognized genera
Current taxonomic understanding places the family *Anarhichadidae* as comprising only four recognized genera: *Anarhichas*, *Anariichthys*, *Chirolophis*, and *Pseudalutarius*. This relatively small number of genera, alongside the limited total number of distinct species (six), is significant because it indicates that this lineage has achieved high specialization within specific, constrained ecological niches found across the North Pacific and North Atlantic, rather than undergoing broad adaptive radiation into many varied environments.
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