| Main Ref. | Miller, G.C. and L.P. Woods, 1988 |
| Appearance refers to | Male; Female |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | no special organs |
| Different appearance | males alike females |
| Different colors | males alike females |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | none |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | clearly concave |
| 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 |
The head of juveniles and young adults may have a large dark wedge-like spot above and behind orbits; black peritoneum; branchial cavity with black lining. Slender caudal peduncle. Head with ground color; irregular dark blotch on operculum. Body tan to dark brownish black. The dark band and stripe become less distinct in bigger specimens. Fins dark-colored (generally black). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 47 - 52 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | absent |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 10 - 13 |
| on upper limb | 4 - 7 |
| total | 14 - 20 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 |
| total | 25 |
| Attributes | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 |
| Ventral 0 | |
| Spines total | 19 - 21 |
| Soft-rays total | 33 - 40 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 8 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 |