| Main Ref. | Conway, K.W. and R.L. Mayden, 2006 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Transverse scale rows: 10-13. Distinguished from all other family members by having 3 or less dorsal spines (versus 7 or more), 6-7 broad dark bars along flanks (versus 7 or more), 16-18 peduncle scale rows (versus 18-24). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | 27 - 32 |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | 15 - 20 |
| 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 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 1 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 13 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 5 - 8 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 14 - 19 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 6 |