| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase | Skull, Spine |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | clearly convex |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Description: Body superficially naked, with minute and embedded scales. Body silvery with light metallic bluish tinge dorsally; a small diffuse dark spot on opercle (Ref. 26938); juveniles with five chevron -shaped bars (Ref. 90102). Scales minute and embedded; scutes 12-30 (Ref. 90102). Weakly developed scutes, appearing naked. Only fish in the family that does not have dorsal fin spines throughout life (Ref. 26938). Spines of first dorsal fin embedded and not apparent at fork length greater than about 17cm; spines of first anal fin embedded with growth (Ref. 90102). Anterior 4-5 dorsal and anal soft rays of juveniles extremely long and filamentous (Ref. 48635, Ref. 90102). Villiform teeth disappearing with growth. Body very deep in juveniles about 1.5 in FL, becoming more elongate with growth (Ref. 90102). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 120 - 140 |
| 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 | 12 - 17 |
| on upper limb | 4 - 6 |
| total | 16 - 23 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | other |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 7 - 8 |
| Soft-rays total | 18 - 22 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 20 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 18 - 20 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |