| Main Ref. | Kuiter, R.H., 1993 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| 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 | cycloid and ctenoid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Distinguished by the following characteristics: compressed head and body; grey to pale brown body, mottled and chequered with dark brown dorsally; 8 oblique narrow dark brown to purplish brown bars along side; large black blotch on first dorsal fin; greatly enlarged mouth in mature males; first spine of dorsal fin always longest; second dorsal rays I,7-8; anal rays I,7; pectoral rays 15-18; lateral scales 25-29; TRB 9-12; predorsal scales 12-16, reaching close up behind eyes (Ref. 84480). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | 25 - 29 |
| 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 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 6 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 8 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 5 - 7 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 15 - 18 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |