Morphology Data of Ophidion imitator
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Lea, R.N., 1997
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features striking shape of body
Body shape lateral elongated
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

Dark brown to black blotching and spotting on head, dorsal, and lateral portion of the body. Scales with anguilliform arrangement on body; ethmoid spine blunt. Pelvic filaments long. Gill rakers numerous. Prejuvenile stage present.

Ease of Identification likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Ophidion imitator

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
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 3 - 4
on upper limb 9 - 12
total 12 - 15
Vertebrae
preanal
total 70 - 76

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes continuous with caudal fin
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 135 - 163
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes pointed; confluent

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 112 - 139

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   25 - 28
Pelvics Attributes  reduced to filaments
Position    jugular  before origin of D1
Spines     0
Soft-rays   2 - 2
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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