| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E. and C.C. Baldwin, 1997 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | none |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | superior |
| Type of scales | ctenoid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Body and median fins of live specimens dark red; mottled with dark brown ; head dark red to reddish gray, lower half abruptly paler. No distinct dark spot or ocellus on opercle. No dermal flap or small tentacle dorsally on eye. One large pore in interorbital space on each side close to the edge of the orbit; a small median pore posteriorly in interorbital space. Tubular anterior nostril long, on edge of snout at the base of the upper lip; when laid back reaching or nearly reaching the posterior nostril; when bent forward, extending to front of upper lip. Scales without projecting ctenii on posterior edge. Longitudinal scale series 52-56. |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 31 - 41 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | 52 - 56 |
| 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 | 11 - 11 |
| on upper limb | 5 - 6 |
| total | 16 - 17 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 10 |
| total | 26 - 28 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 7 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 22 - 25 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 19 - 22 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 15 - 17 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |