| Main Ref. | Bruce, R.W. and J.E. Randall, 1985 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | compressed |
| 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 | terminal |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Head and body gray-brown with darker scale edges, paler ventrally. Numerous dark spots on scales on operculum and region circumscribed by pectoral fin. Flexible dorsal spines; caudal fin rounded in juveniles, double emarginate in adults; pectoral fin base yellowish, the rest unpigmented; pale pelvic fins with 2 reddish bars, at the center and near the base. Skin dark, almost black around anus. Orangish iris. |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 26 - 26 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | 1.5 - 1.5 |
| Scale rows below lateral line | 4.5 - 4.5 |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | 12 - 12 |
| Barbels | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | 8 - 14 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 9 - 9 |
| total | 25 - 25 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 9 - 9 |
| Soft-rays total | 10 - 10 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 13 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |