| Main Ref. | Keith, P., G. Marquet and R.E. Watson, 2004 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | always different morphology between mature adults |
| Different colors | always different colors between mature adults |
| Remarks | Sexual dimorphism fairly well developed with males always having jaws longer and head slightly larger than females and these have a central black spot in the ventral surface of head not present in males. Urogenital papilla in both sexes similar and appearing broadly rounded in ventral view and somewhat flattened inlateral view, posterior margin straight or rounded in females and slightly pointed in males (Ref. 52347). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Dorsal fins with VI-I, 9-10; Anal fins I, 9; Caudal fin with 11 branched rays; Pectoral fin usually 17 (16-17) rays, ventral, most ray simple; Pelvic fins always I, 5, with both fins joined together their entiere length between rays 5 to form a strong cup-like disc and well developed frenum; ventral surface of head in females with central black spot. Jaw lengths in males much greater than in females. In live colors, lateral body markings with patterns of orange, brown, grey, white and black can appear as transverse bars or big spots. Transverse black bars with a marginal blue line. First dorsal fin with a black spot and an upper red one (Ref. 52347). |
| 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 | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 7 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 10 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 16 - 17 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |