| Main Ref. | Dawson, C.E., 1986 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | other |
| Different appearance | always different morphology between mature adults |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks | Males with brood pouch; females with ovipositor (Ref. 205). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | eel-like |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | tube-like |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Usually with 4-5 dark bands crossing opercle (Ref. 4281). Description: Characterized by numerous alternating dark brown to reddish and pale (white to light grey) bands; caudal fin dusky red and white-edged; 10 caudal rays; rings 16 + 19 - 20; discontinuous superior trunk and tail ridges; inferior trunk ridge ends on anal ring; lateral trunk ridge confluent with inferior tail ridge; length of snout 1.4-1.7 in head length; depth of snout 10.4-15.6 in snout length; head length 3.6-4.7 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Ease of Identification |
| 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 | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 20 - 23 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 4 - 4 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 18 - 22 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes suppressed/absent |
| Position absent | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 0 - 0 |