| Main Ref. | Buckup, P.A. and R.E. Reis, 1997 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Is uniquely diagnosed by the W-shaped lateral marks on the body, which are formed by a concentration of melanophores in three scales of the lateral and two adjacent scales of the series situated immediately below. Is also distinguished from other species of Characidium from southern Brazil in having 12 series of scales around the caudal peduncle (14 in C. pterostictum), complete lateral line (incomplete in C. rachovii), 37-38 lateral scales (36 or fewer in C. orientale and C. occidentale); and lack of oblique bars below lateral line (10-14 such bars present in C. serrano). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 37 - 38 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | 4 - 5 |
| Scale rows below lateral line | 5 - 5 |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | 12 - 12 |
| 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 |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 12 - 12 |
| Adipose fin | present |
| Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 8 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 11 - 12 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 9 - 9 |