| other |
| eel-like |
compressed |
| other |
| elongated |
| |
|
| no spines |
no spines |
| no rows |
| more than two dorso-ventral clusters or bands |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| no rows |
| more than two dorso-ventral clusters or bands |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| pigmented |
pigmented |
| with row of melanophores |
| normal melanophores at fin base |
| normal (i.e. small or absent) melanophores at fin base |
| Gut elongate; sac-like stomach (elongate and pointed tip) (Ref. 265); eyes round, dorsolateral orientation, fleshy snout protuberance; early forming pectoral fin and pelvic fin; unique head pigment; alternating median dorso- and ventrolateral blotches; stomach forms early on right side; dorsal longitudinal septum open; high total vertebral count (78-84).
Pigmentation:
Flexion-postflexion: on upper and lower jaws; internal elongate patches in snout; ventrally and laterally on brain; on filaments of lower limbs of gill arches; internally posteroventral to eye; paired in gular and basibranchial region; internally at pectoral fin base and cleithrum; at cleithral symphysis; 6-7 paired blotches along gut at trunk/gut juncture extending ventrad over gut; postanal bar; heavy on hypural region; 5 median dorsal blotches alternating with ventrolateral blotches; on pectoral and pelvic fin bases.
Transformation: same as above but also on dorsal and anal fin bases.
Sequence of fin development: caudal and pectorals, pelvics, dorsal and anal.
Distinguished from other opisthoproctids by: elongate snout with unique triangular flap at tip; round eyes (anterodorsal); distinctive heavy pigment pattern; number of myomeres (81-84). |
