Morphology Data of Makaira mazara
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Nakamura, I., 1985
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 elongated
Cross section oval
Dorsal head profile clearly convex
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout upper jaw greatly elongated
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Body elongated and not very compressed; upper jaw produced into a robust but not very long beak; two dorsal fins, the height of the first less then the greatest body depth, short anteriorly, taller in the middle, then becoming shorter posteriorly; pectoral fins falcate and flexible, with 21 to 23 rays; body densely covered with small, embedded scales with 1 or 2 sharp points; back dark blue, with 15 bluish bars across the flanks; belly pale silver; membrane of first dorsal fin blue black, with dark spots (Ref. 55763). Dark blue above, silvery white below; sometimes with light blue vertical stripes; 1st dorsal fin blackish to dark blue, other fins dark brown with tinges of dark blue in some specimens. Body blue-black dorsally and silvery white ventrally, with about 25 pale, cobalt-colored stripes, each consisting of round dots or narrow bars (may not always be visible especially in preserved specimens). Bill long, extremely stout and round in cross section. Nape conspicuously elevated. Right and left branchiostegal membranes completely united together, but free from isthmus. No gill rakers. Body densely covered with elongate, thick, bony scales, each often with 1 or 2, sometimes 3, posterior points. Caudal peduncle with strong double keels on each side and a shallow notch on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Makaira mazara

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 11 - 11
total 24 - 24

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 2
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total 40 - 45
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 2
Spines total
Soft-rays total 18 - 24

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   20 - 23
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  behind origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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