| Body relatively short, dorsal fin beginning posterior to a vertical through tip of appressed pectoral fin. Anterior most 4-6 dorsal fin pterygiophores without spines; first spine-bearing dorsal pterygiophore inserting into 8th-9th neural interspace.
Pigmentation:
Melanophores: Two small melanophores at tip of lower jaw, one on each side of symphysis, and one at angle of lower jaw. An internal melanophore on each side at posteroventral corner of neurocranium. An expanded melanophore on midventral surface of neurocranium. A paired series of expanded internal melanophores dorsal to gut from pectoral fin base to gas bladder. An unpaired, median row of melanophores along midventral line from gular area to gas bladder, the anteriormost present as elongate dashes, the remainder rounded and expanded; a short v-shaped patch superimposed on anterior end of midventral series ventral to pectoral fin. Dorsal surface of gas bladder covered with melanophores. A paired series of melanophores along base of anal fin, posteriormost one or two median, more intense than others in series. A short middorsal series of melanophores from posterior end of dorsal fin to base of caudal fin. A short midlateral streak on caudal peduncle. Melanophores on proximal part of middle and lower caudal rays.
Chromatophores: Erythrophores ventrally on lower jaw, gular area, and midventrally below gut. Internal erythrophores on head below neurocranium. A series of erythrophores internally along dorsal surface of vertebral centra, extending entire length of vertebral column. A series of internal erythrophores on ventral surface of vertebral centra, extending from level of anus to base of caudal fin. Xanthophores near tip of lower jaw and on posterior surface of neurocranium. Some xanthophores mixed with melanophores on dorsal surface of gas bladder. Xanthophores around centra of posterior about 10 vertebrae, the posteriormost expanded into a wedge-shaped patch on caudal peduncle and base of caudal fin. A series of xanthophores along base of dorsal fin from approximate level of gas bladder to base of caudal fin. |
