Main Ref. | Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | other |
Different appearance | always different morphology between mature adults |
Different colors | |
Remarks | Males with brood pouch; females with ovipositor (Ref. 205). Males are heavier than females (Ref. 52034). |
Striking features | striking shape of body |
Body shape lateral | other |
Cross section | angular |
Dorsal head profile | |
Type of eyes | more or less normal |
Type of mouth/snout | tube-like |
Position of mouth | terminal |
Type of scales | |
Diagnosis |
Description: (based on 80 specimens): Adult height: 7.0-17.0cm. Rings: 11+36 (34-38). Snout length: 2.3 (2.0-2.6) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17-18 covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 16 (15-18). Coronet: low-medium, rounded, overhanging at the back, often with a cup-like depression in the top; sometimes with broad flanges; not spiny. Spines: low, rounded bumps only. Other distinctive characters: deep head; deep body; thick snout. Color pattern: often totally black with a grainy texture; alternatively pale yellow or cream with fairly large, dark spots (especially females); may be sandy colored, blending in with the surroundings. |
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 | 0 |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | |
on upper limb | |
total | |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total |
Attributes | no striking attributes |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
Ventral 0 - 0 | |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 17 - 18 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | other (see remark) |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 4 - 4 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 15 - 18 | |
Pelvics | Attributes suppressed/absent |
Position absent | |
Spines | |
Soft-rays |