Main Ref. | Lea, R.N., 1997 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks |
Striking features | striking shape of body |
Body shape lateral | elongated |
Cross section | oval |
Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
Type of eyes | more or less normal |
Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
Position of mouth | sub-terminal/inferior |
Type of scales | |
Diagnosis |
Dark brown to black blotching and spotting on head, dorsal, and lateral portion of the body. Scales with anguilliform arrangement on body; ethmoid spine blunt. Pelvic filaments long. Gill rakers numerous. Prejuvenile stage present. |
Ease of Identification | likely to be confused with closely related species. |
Lateral Lines | 1 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 | 3 - 4 |
on upper limb | 9 - 12 |
total | 12 - 15 |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total | 70 - 76 |
Attributes | continuous with caudal fin |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
Ventral 0 - 0 | |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 135 - 163 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | pointed; confluent |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 112 - 139 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 25 - 28 | |
Pelvics | Attributes reduced to filaments |
Position jugular before origin of D1 | |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 2 - 2 |