| Main Ref. | Springer, V.G., 1988 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Dorsal fin XII or XIII (rarely XIII), 13-15, deeply incised between spinous and segmented-ray areas. Anal fin II,15-17. Pectoral fin 12-14 (rarely 12 or 14). Segmented caudal-fin rays 13. Vertebrae 10 + 21-23. Dentary incisor teeth which includes anterior canines very similar in appearance from incisors, 46-54 in males and 48 to 56 in females, averaging more in females than males; posterior canines 0 or 1 (usually 1). Lateral line without vertical pairs of pores, extending posteriorly to point between vertical from interspace between 9th and 10th spines and vertical from base of 11th dorsal-fin spine (rarely anterior to base of 10th spine). With cirrus on posterior rim of anterior nostril; absent on anterior rim. Posterior portion of body with sparse peppering of fine, dark spots (Ref. 5296). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| 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 | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 31 - 33 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1notched No |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 12 - 13 |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 17 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 14 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position jugular | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |