Main Ref. | Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks |
Striking features | striking shape of body |
Body shape lateral | eel-like |
Cross section | oval |
Dorsal head profile | clearly convex |
Type of eyes | more or less normal |
Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
Position of mouth | terminal |
Type of scales | |
Diagnosis |
Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; maxilla adnate or nearly so; cardiform teeth present; branchiostegal membranes partly or completely united; swim bladder with thin terminal membrane or bulb; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins, and swim bladder rocker bone (Ref. 34024). Lacks externally visible pectoral fins (Ref. 51068). Description: Characterized by translucent with silvery cheek and abdomen; large stellate melanophores on posterior half of body, becoming denser and darker towards tail; depth of body about 15 in TL; head length about 10 in TL; upper jaw with outer row of recurved cardiform teeth and inner row of conical teeth; single row of conical teeth in lower jaw and palatines; 6-7 conical and recurved teeth in vomer (Ref. 90102). |
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 | 20 - 23 |
total |
Attributes | |
Fins number | |
Finlets No. | Dorsal |
Ventral | |
Spines total | |
Soft-rays total | 19 - 27 |
Adipose fin |
Attributes |
Fins number | |
Spines total | |
Soft-rays total | 36 - 43 |
Pectoral | Attributes other (see remarks) |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 0 - 0 | |
Pelvics | Attributes |
Position | |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 0 - 0 |