Main Ref. | Staeck, W. and I. Schindler, 2015 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks | Adult males have minute dark brown dots scattered over most of the lower regions of cheek and operculum (vs. usually without such dots in females). |
Striking features | |
Body shape lateral | elongated |
Cross section | |
Dorsal head profile | |
Type of eyes | |
Type of mouth/snout | |
Position of mouth | |
Type of scales | |
Diagnosis |
Heros liberifer can be diagnosed from all its congeners by having the following characters: a pattern of several horizontal series of bright red dots on the lower half of the body sides (vs. absence of rows of red dots); distinct caudal spot in adult specimens (vs. caudal spot usually merged with bar 2 in adult specimens); and tiny dark dots on operculum and cheeks in adult males (vs. large dots or a vermicular pattern). It differs from adult specimens of the frequently syntopic Heros severus by narrow (vs. thick) lips, bar 4, which is not shortened, but extends from the anal fi n base onto the base of the dorsal fin (vs. bar 4 extending only slightly above the lower lateral line), by the first two anterior hemal spines, which are broader and partially connected (vs. the first three hemal spines connected), and a bright red (vs. brown to dark reddish) iris in live specimens (Ref. 114589). |
Ease of Identification |
Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
Scales on lateral line | |
Pored lateral line scales | |
Scales in lateral series | |
Scale rows above lateral line | 17 - 20 |
Scale rows below lateral line | 11 - 12 |
Scales around caudal peduncle | |
Barbels | |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | |
on upper limb | |
total | |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total | 17 - 17 |
Attributes | |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal |
Ventral | |
Spines total | 15 - 16 |
Soft-rays total | 12 - 13 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | more or less truncate |
Fins number | |
Spines total | 6 - 7 |
Soft-rays total | 10 - 11 |
Pectoral | Attributes |
Spines | |
Soft-rays 12 - 13 | |
Pelvics | Attributes |
Position thoracic | |
Spines 1 | |
Soft-rays 5 - 5 |