Morphology Data of Arius africanus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Eccles, D.H., 1992
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features none
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
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

Description: Dorsal profile of head with a steep slope to first dorsal-fin base (Ref. 3290). Mouth with 3 pairs of barbels, the maxillary pair extending to slightly beyond pectoral-fin base; head shield not very granulated; supraoccipital process longer than broad at base, its hind end nearly straight; median longitudinal groove on head shallow, extending to just behind posterior margin of orbit anteriorly, not reaching supraoccipital process posteriorly; premaxillary band of teeth in upper jaw 5 times as long as broad, mandibulary band of teeth in lower jaw deeply curved and medially interrupted; palate teeth, on roof of mouth, granular, in a single triangular patch on each side, diverging behind, with a conical projection at the anterior end, well separated (Ref. 3290). First dorsal and pectoral fins each with a strong spine; total anal fin rays 19-21 (Ref. 3290).

Colouration: Back brownish, sides silvery, belly white (Ref. 3290).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Arius africanus

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 4
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin present

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 19 - 21

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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