| Main Ref. | Allen, G.R. and K.N. Smith, 1992 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
In genus Stegastes: dorsal rays XII, 14-17; anal rays 11, 13-14; pectoral rays 19-21; tubed lateral-line scales 18-21; total gill rakers on first arch 18-21; colour mainly dark brown (to blackish on vertical fins) with abruptly pale (yellow in life) area covering peduncle, caudal fin, and posterior portion of dorsal fin. |
| Ease of Identification | easy to distinguish from other species. |
| Lateral Lines | 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 | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | 18 - 21 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 12 |
| Soft-rays total | 14 - 17 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 13 - 15 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |