Pteropsaron springeri, new species, is described from 18 specimens collected from the Philippines and Indonesia. It differs from all other species of the Pteropsaron/Osopsaron complex in that the first dorsal fin has only three spines and is displaced anteriorly to lie over the posterior end of the occiput. The proximal ends of the pterygiophores lie against the second and third neural arches, which are bent forward to form horizontal processes that accommodate the pterygiophores. Based on a synapomorphy in the suspensorium, we suggest that the relationships of Pteropsaron and related genera (subfamily Hemerocoetinae) lie with the Creediidae and Trichonotidae, and not with the Percophidae, where they have traditionally been placed. An abbreviated key is provided to the family Trichonotidae as we construe it, which contains three subfamilies: the Creediinae, Hemerocoetinae, and Trichonotinae. We tentatively recognize eight genera in the Hemerocoetinae: Hemerocoetes, and the “Pteropsaron-like” genera Acanthaphritis, Osopsaron, Pteropsaron, Dactylopsaron, Enigmapercis, Matsubaraea, and Squamicreedia, although the relationship of the former to the latter seven needs further investigation. The species of Osopsaron and Pteropsaron are treated briefly, and some new information is presented. We provisionally place two species in Osopsaron (O. verecundum and O. karlik) and seven species in Pteropsaron (P. evolans, P. formosensis, P. heemstrai, P. incisum, P. natalensis, P. neocaledonicus, and P. springeri).