| Main Ref. | Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen, 1966 |
| 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). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | eel-like |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | tube-like |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Description: Characterized by tan to dark brown color with 10-12 narrow pale bars crossing back, sometimes with dark bars crossing lower part of side and ventral surface of trunk; 1-6 dark blotches between lateral and superior trunk ridges in lighter fish; 10 caudal rays; rings 15 + 28 - 31; discontinuous superior trunk and tail ridges; inferior trunk ridge ends at anal ring; continuous lateral trunk ridge with inferior tail ridge; length of snout 2.3-3.0 in head length; depth of snout 2.1-3.1 in snout length; head length 7.2-8.9 in SL (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 | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 17 - 19 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 2 - 4 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 10 - 13 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes suppressed/absent |
| Position absent | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |