Morphology Data of Hypleurochilus multifilis
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Williams, J.T., 2002
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral elongated
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Species distinguished by: pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 soft rays; pectoral-fin soft rays usually 13 or 14; segmented anal-fin rays usually 17; segmented caudal-fin soft rays usually 13; dorsal fin not separated into 2 portions by deep notch (notch, when present, not reaching nearly to dorsal contour of body); dorsal-fin spines usually 12, the last easy to see; total dorsal-fin elements 25 to 30; preopercular sensory pore series with 5 or more pores at each position (northern Gulf of Mexico); an enlarged canine tooth present posteriorly on both sides of 1 or both jaws (sometimes absent on 1 side); no teeth on vomer; caudal fin uniformly pigmented or mottled with dark spots; gill openings not continuous, each restricted to side of head, extending ventrally to about midlevel of pectoral-fin base or further (may extend completely around lower side of head and form common opening with gill opening of opposite side); cirri present only on eyes; ventral edge of upper lip smooth; lateral line never consisting of 2 disconnected, overlapping portions. Common amongst Blenniids: small, slender fishes, largest species to about 13 cm SL, most under 7.5 cm SL. Eyes high on sides of head; mouth ventral, upper jaw not protractile. A single row of incisor-like teeth in each jaw and often an enlarged canine-like tooth posteriorly on each side of lower jaw and sometimes upper jaw; no teeth on palatines. Dorsal and anal fins long, their spines usually flexible; dorsal fin with fewer spines than segmented (soft) rays; 2 spines in anal fin, scarcely differentiated from the segmented rays, the first not visible in females, both often supporting fleshy, bulbous, rugose swellings at their tips in males; pelvic fins inserted anterior to base of pectoral fins, with 1 spine (not visible) and segmented rays; all segmented fin rays, except those of caudal fin, unbranched (simple), caudal-fin rays of adults branched. All species lack scales (Ref.52855).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Hypleurochilus multifilis

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

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes extending over most of the back length
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 12 - 12
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 2 - 2
Soft-rays total 17 - 17

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   13 - 14
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    jugular
Spines     1
Soft-rays   3 - 3
Back to Search
Comments & Corrections
cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17