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Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-17; Vertebrae: 28-30. Diagnosis: It is distinguished from all congeners by the following unique combination of characters: males with about 30-50 dots on flank, each being lesser in diameter than the radius of the pupil, a proximal stripe on anal fin, pelvic fin reaching the genital papillae, dorsal fin tip reaching the caudal fin, females also with dots on flank; dorsal fin with 13-16 rays an27-29 scales in the median lateral series (Ref. 95020).
Description: Dorsal profile concave on head, convex from nape to end of dorsal fin base; ventral profile convex, slightly concave to nearly straight on caudal peduncle posterior to dorsal and anal fin (Ref. 95020). Snout slightly pointed, mouth directed upwards, lower jaw longer than upper, posterior end of rictus slightly below inferior border of pupil; branchiostegal membrane projecting posteriorly from opercle (Ref. 95020). Dorsal and anal fins shallow, located posterior to mid-body, tips with short filamentous rays, anal fin rounded, dorsal fin somewhat pointed, tip reaching caudal fin; rays of both fins with papillate contact organs; dorsal fin rays 13-16; anal fin rays 15-17; pectoral fin approximately triangular, short, posterior margin not reaching pelvic fin base; pectoral fin rays 18; pelvic fins tips reaching genital papillae; pelvic fin rays 6; caudal fin subtruncate; caudal fin rays 30 (Ref. 95020). Scales cycloid, body and head entirely scaled, except on ventral surface of head; scales in median lateral series 27-29 + 3-4 on caudal fin base (Ref. 95020). Frontal squamation G-type; frontal neuromast series of 'open' type; supra-orbital series in shallow groove, with two neuromasts; preopercular canal with 6 pores; one neuromast on each scale of median longitudinal series (Ref. 95020). Basihyal bone fan-shaped, about 70-90% as wide as long; six branchiostegal rays; anterior margin of vomer thickened but edentulous; second pharyngobranchial with 1 tooth; single antero-dorsal process of urohyalateral post-temporal process rudimentary; total vertebrae 28-30 (Ref. 95020). Premaxilla and dentary with numerous irregularly distributed unicuspid, slightly curved teeth of variable size, a small number of larger ones on outer row of upper and lower jaws (Ref. 95020).
Colouration: Male colouration in life: body and head scales light blue, greenish dorsally, whitish ventrally; flank with approximately 30-50 rounded red dots; inferior lip reddish, extending in an oblique bar below orbit; throat yellowish; opercular region with 2-3 irregular oblique reddish bars and dots ventrally; branchiostegal membrane reddish; dorsal fin greenish with red spots proximally, lighter distally, with dark red margin; anal fin greenish with dark red proximal stripe, lighter distally, with dark red margin; pelvic fins orange with red dots; pectoral fins hyaline with red dots ventrally; caudal fin orange, darker in centre, lighter dorsally and ventrally, with red dorsal margin (Ref. 95020). Female colouration in life: body and head scales pale olive to light brown, flank with red small dots in Chad population; all fins hyaline (Ref. 95020). |
