Morphology Data of Microctenopoma nanum
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Norris, S.M., 2008
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
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: interorbital space narrow, 3.3-4.5 times in head length; 13-18 dorsal and 6-10 anal fin spines; flanks with even and distinct bars at all sizes; in adults, subopercle usually serrated and caudal fin squared; caudal peduncle developed; breeding males never marked with

orange (Ref. 81650).

Description: snout relatively acute; head profile straight; mouth relatively large; 3-16 scales in upper lateral line, 0-12 in lower; 2-4 scales above upper lateral line, 7-10 scales below; 1-8 serrations above opercular notch, no serrations within notch, 1-6 serrations below, 0-18 subopercular serrations, interopercle and preopercle entire (Ref. 81650).

Coloration: well-preserved specimens nearly always distinctly barred; each of 6-8 dark bars a little wider than pale interspaces; bars almost invariably straight and vertical with evenly edged borders, and usually continue onto anal and dorsal fin bases; pelvic fin with dark stripe along anterior edge; dorsal and anal fin spines and rays frequently capped with white; usually 1-2 horizontal streaks on cheek just posterior to orbit; dark patch at dorsal border of opercle; dark bars on Lower Guinean specimens wider than those from Congo (Ref. 81650).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Microctenopoma nanum

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series 24 - 28
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 26 - 28

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 13 - 18
Soft-rays total 7 - 11
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 6 - 10
Soft-rays total 7 - 11

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17