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Dorsal spines (total): -0; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: caudal fin with oblique white band across postero-dorsal lobe; origin of dorsal fin less than one head length behind head; dorsal base extends behind origin of pelvic fin origin; dorsal leading ray distinctly shorter than leading edge of fin; caudal fin with 6+7 principal rays; caudal peduncle less than 1.5 times depth; snout shorter than post-orbit length; eyes placed equidistant from hind margin of head and tip of snout (mid-way along head) (Ref. 81646).
Description: body relatively short, slender, depressed anteriorly, width tapering to compressed caudal peduncle; head length 3.8-4.3 times in SL; head depressed with obtuse anterior profile, smooth-skinned; branchiostegal membrane deeply cleft mid-ventrally; mouth subterminal, broad; lips thin; teeth caniniform in square pad on premaxilla and narrow band on anterior mandible; barbels filamentous, maxillary longest, reaching above base of pectorals; nostrils in mid-snout, separated; eyes small, widely spaced (interorbital width 2.8-3.3 times orbit diameter), positioned in middle of head, confluent (orbits without free border); fins moderately large; origin of dorsal fin less than one head length behind head; dorsal fin base to above origin of pelvic fins; dorsal fin hind margin straight; pectoral fins rounded, leading ray slender, pectinate and padded, not reaching pelvics; pelvics rounded, leading ray slender, pectinate, padded, not reaching anal; anal short based and slender, not reaching caudal; caudal slender and emarginate or shallowly forked, base with dark, semi-oval fleshy pad; adipose fin long, extending from behind pelvic base to procurrent ridge of caudal fin, gently curved (Ref. 81646).
Coloration: dorsal and lateral surfaces dark brown, with scattered darker spots over head and body dorsum becoming less dense behind and below; light saddle patch behind dorsal base; ventral surface before anal light cream, pigment across genital region; base of fin rays brown, membranes clear; caudal fin distinctive with basal third and postero-dorsal lobe black, separated by a creamy white band extending from mid-dorsal to distal ventral lobe (Ref. 81646). |
