| Main Ref. | Skelton, P.H., 2001 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Description: Body slender, ellipsoid; abdomen short, pelvics far forward, caudal rounded (Ref. 52193). Head pointed, with eyes far forward; mouth small, with sharp, conical teeth (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 15-16 spines and 8-9 soft rays; anal fin with 8-9 spines and 8-9 soft rays (Ref. 52193). Lateral line scales 25-30 (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Usually dark brown or black, head with dark bars radiating from eye, 7-13 dark vertical bars along body and a black spot at base of caudal fin, lappets of dorsal and anal fins white (Ref. 52193). Breeding males turn turquoise with dark strips (Ref. 52193). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | 25 - 30 |
| 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 | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 15 - 16 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 9 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 8 - 9 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic beneath origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |