Morphology Data of Coptodon tholloni
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Stiassny, M.L.J., A. Lamboj, D. De Weirdt and G.G. Teugels, 2008
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: 10 or fewer rakers on lower limb of first arch; unpaired fins not predominantly red-brown; mouth terminal; caudal fin densely covered with scales and with network of clear spots and lines; at least 1 row (sometimes 2) of dark spots in the middle of the body; a black sickle-shaped spot at the base of each flank scale; dorsal fin with 15-16 spines and 9-11 soft rays (total rays 24-26); anal fin with 3 spines and 7-9 soft rays; 27-29 scales in lateral line; outer row teeth relatively fine (Ref. 81260).

Description: relatively slender-bodied; mouth large; head profile of adults, especially large males, slightly concave; eyes relatively large (Ref. 52307). Head length 32.3-35.0% SL; lower pharyngeal jaw with pointed and curved anterior teeth and straight tricuspid posterior teeth; ventral keel shorter than dentigerous plate; 2-4 tooth rows in oral jaws, outer row teeth relatively fine, bicuspids (Ref. 81260).

Coloration: flanks yellowish white, creamy white ventrally, dark brown dorsally; flank scales with a black marking at the base; belly, throat and chest whitish in juveniles, becoming red in sexually mature specimens; 7 vertical bars, narrowing ventrally, transversed by 2 horizontal bands; where bars and bands intersect they form a series of blotches; dorsal fin greyish with some clear maculae and a well marked "tilapia spot"; caudal fin dark with numerous maculae, particularly near the distal border; anal fin very dark to black, sometimes tinted with red; pelvics with black leading edge; pectoral fins transparent (Ref. 81260). A black band crosses through the eye (Ref. 52307).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Coptodon tholloni

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 27 - 29
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 9 - 10
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 15 - 16
Soft-rays total 9 - 11
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 7 - 9

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17