The ophidiiform genus Thalassobathia Cohen, 1963 was placed in a group of viviparous ophidioid genera (Cohen 1963) and later by Cohen and Nielsen (1978) in the family Bythitidae. Until recently all of the 30 reported specimens known were identified as females, immature or unsexed. However, by histological examination of the gonads of two of the specimens (235 and 270 mm SL) we demonstrate that both are males. A genital hood and an intromittent organ, diagnostic for the viviparous Bythitidae, are lacking so we therefore suggest a reassignment of the genus Thalassobathia to the oviparous family Ophidiidae.