Parietal spines usually less inclined caudally than in Diretmoides and Diretmichthys; preopercular spine directed posteriorly rather than anteriorly as in Diretmoides and Diretmichthys; pelvic fin origin below or behind pectoral fin insertion (usually ahead in Diretmoides and Diretmichthys; keeled abdominal scutes form between about 9-13 mm.
Pigmentation:
Larvae: internally on midbrain, spreading onto fore- and hindbrain by 7 mm; externally on top of head after 12 mm; light on premaxillary, dentary, and preopercle, increasing with growth but remaining relatively light on jaws; saddle under last 11-12 dorsal fin rays, often anterior saddle present between parietal spines and dorsal fin origin, few dorsolateral melanophores to strong stripe between saddles in postflexion stage; bar across end of caudal peduncle by about 7 mm; few ventrolaterally to strong stripe above anal fin base; few on anal fin base; internally over upper third of gut, spreading ventrad; series along isthmus and ventral margin of gut.
Juvenile: becoming completely pigmented except on fins by about 30 mm, darkest dorsally, lightest ventrolaterally over gut area.
Sequence of fin development: dorsal and anal and pectorals, pelvics, caudal. |