| Main Ref. | Trewavas, E., 1983 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | no special organs |
| Different appearance | males alike females |
| Different colors | males alike females |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | none |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: mouth small; 3 full rows of scales on cheek (Ref. 2, 53405). Preorbital bone deep; toothed area of lower pharyngeal bone heart-shaped with slender, bevelled teeth with no minor cusp (Ref. 2). Caudal fin strongly emarginated (Ref. 53405). Fold of skin above upper lip bright yellow in life; margins of dorsal, caudal and anal fins black (Ref. 2). Description: outer jaw teeth bicuspid, inner jaw teeth tricuspid, posterior teeth on pharyngeal bone bicuspid; micro-gillrakers present; scales cycloid (Ref. 53405). Pelvic fins remarkably elongated; elongated rays in upper and lower caudal fin lobe give it a bifurcated appearance (Ref. 52307). Coloration: in life: sides silvery with yellow-orange spot on each scale; lower part of head white; skin above upper lip light yellow; dorsal, anal and caudal fins black-edged; "tilapian" spot on dorsal fin present in young individuals, but smaller and more irregular than that of S. occidentalis (Ref. 53405). 4 dark bars may sometimes be visible (Ref. 52307). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 2 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 31 - 34 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | 4 - 4.5 |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | absent |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 18 - 24 |
| on upper limb | 5 - 7 |
| total | 26 - 31 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 30 - 31 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 |
| Ventral 0 | |
| Spines total | 15 - 16 |
| Soft-rays total | 12 - 14 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 13 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic beneath origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |