| Total vertebrae 39-45; pectoral fin rays 13-15; anal fin rays 5-8; mid dorsal bony plates 17-19; mid ventral bony plates 17-19; pigment completely covering dorsal and anal finfolds; by notochord flexion, fan-shaped patch covers about half of caudal fin; by postflexion stage, 8-10 blotches laterally on body; parietal pointed; notochord flexion by >9 mm and <12 mm; by transformation, 1 barbel at tip of mandible and no spines on eye.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: Initially absent dorsally on head and at end of caudal finfold, otherwise completely covered including pectoral fin base, dorsal and anal finfolds; by about 7.5 mm, “bearded” appearance and laterally on mid- and hindbrain.
Flexion: Patches forming on mid first dorsal fin, posteriorly on second dorsal fin, anteriorly and posteriorly on anal fin; on pelvic fin; fan-shaped patch extending over proximal half of caudal fin; “windows” forming posteriorly on finfolds in caudal peduncle region.
Postflexion-transformation: 8-10 blotches forming laterally on body.
Sequence of fin development: pectoral fin, caudal fin, second dorsal fin and anal fin, first dorsal fin, pelvic fin. |