Main Ref. | Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks |
Striking features | |
Body shape lateral | eel-like |
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 | |
Diagnosis |
Body grey with fine pale barring (Ref. 48635). Young with 25-30 dark brown bars separated by white narrow interspaces; bars become obscure with age where in large adults, the pattern becomes mottled brown; corner of mouth dark brown. Head usually lighter, yellowish with variable dark blotching (Ref. 48635). Description: Characterized by origin of dorsal fin anterior to gill opening; anus near middle of body; without canine teeth; conical to rounded molariform jaw teeth; broad plate vomer of molariform teeth (up to over 50 in large individuals) (Ref. 90102). |
Ease of Identification |
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 | 0 |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | |
on upper limb | |
total | |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total | 132 - 137 |
Attributes | continuous with caudal fin |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
Ventral 0 - 0 | |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 0 - 0 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 0 - 0 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines | |
Soft-rays | |
Pelvics | Attributes suppressed/absent |
Position | |
Spines | |
Soft-rays |