Main Ref. | Smith, M.M., 1986 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks |
Striking features | |
Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
Cross section | compressed |
Dorsal head profile | |
Type of eyes | |
Type of mouth/snout | |
Position of mouth | |
Type of scales | |
Diagnosis |
Characterized by having tubed lateral-line scales 19-20+9-10; depth of body 2.5-2.7 in SL; dorsal and anal fins elevated posteriorly; rounded caudal fin. The false eye which is actually the dorsal fin ocellus confuses predators because it poses an inverted image of a fish. When alarmed, this fish will poke its head into a hole and expose its tail end which mimics the head of the moray eel (Ref. 9710). Head and body brownish black with small pale blue spots; vertical and pelvic fins dark orange-brown, with many small blue spots; blue ringed black ocellus above base of last 3 dorsal rays; yellow spots at base of upper caudal rays; pectoral rays bright yellow, fin membrane transparent (Ref. 10430). |
Ease of Identification |
Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
Scales on lateral line | |
Pored lateral line scales | 19 - 29 |
Scales in lateral series | |
Scale rows above lateral line | |
Scale rows below lateral line | |
Scales around caudal peduncle | |
Barbels | |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | 9 - 10 |
on upper limb | 2 - 3 |
total | 11 - 13 |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total |
Attributes | |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
Ventral 0 - 0 | |
Spines total | 11 - 11 |
Soft-rays total | 8 - 10 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | 3 - 3 |
Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
Pectoral | Attributes |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 17 - 20 | |
Pelvics | Attributes |
Position | |
Spines 1 | |
Soft-rays 4 - 4 |