A sea raven, Hemitripterus americanus, off the coast of New Jersey, USA. The Sea Raven is a member of the sculpin family (family Cottidae). Most members of this family have a large head and an elongate, tapering body, partly covered with scales or prickles, but a few are scale less. The eyes are placed high on the head. The pelvic fins have a single spine and 2 to 5 soft rays. Most species have separate spiny and soft-rayed dorsal fins. The anal fin is usually about as long as the soft dorsal fin and has no spines. A lateral line is present. There are 11 species in North America, which occur in both fresh and salt water and also frequently in rocky intertidal areas.