| Main Ref. | Williams, J.T., 1988 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks | Color pattern alike. Generally males 1st dorsal spine much higher than 2nd dorsal spine, up to almost thrice, but in females less than twice only (Ref. 529). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | oval |
| 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 | |
| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII, 15, membrane attached to caudal fin, with deep notch above last spine, first spine up to almost thrice the height of second spine in males, but in females less than twice only; anal fin II, 16; pectoral rays 15; pelvic fin I, 4; caudal fin procurrent rays 10-12. Vertebrae 10 + 21. LL, without scales and scalelike flaps; LL tubes 0-5, canal ends below dorsal ray 2-8. Lower lip smooth mesially, plicate laterally. Upper lip crenulae 36-47. Gill rakers 23-30. Cephalic sensory pore system simple, midsnout pores absent. Cirri, supraorbital 2-9, nasal 5-23; nuchal 27-38, in 4 groups, ventralmost borne on a small nuchal flap. Overall dark brown with orange spots in juveniles, subadults and adults; dorsal fin rays and caudal fin upper rays, tips red-orange; iris red (Ref. 529). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 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 | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | 23 - 30 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 11 |
| total | 30 - 31 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 12 - 13 |
| Soft-rays total | 14 - 16 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 17 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 14 - 16 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 4 - 4 |