Morphology Data of Halichoeres zeylonicus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features none
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section compressed
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 cycloid scales
Diagnosis

Females light bluish gray dorsally, white ventrally, with a narrow orange stripe running from the top of the snout to the upper base of the caudal fin (where it may contain a blackish spot). Males blue-green on head and anterior portions of the body with irregular pink band and spots; their orange-yellow lateral stripe blue-edged, often with narrow extensions; a blue-edged spot at the upper portion of the pectoral fin base, and two or more similar blue-edged spots just anterior of the caudal peduncle above the lateral stripe.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Halichoeres zeylonicus

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 27 - 27
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 9 - 9
Soft-rays total 11 - 11
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 11 - 11

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   13 - 13
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  behind origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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