| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E., 2005 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Fewer than 50 incisiform teeth in each jaw; large canine on sides of both upper and lower jaw; absence of head cirri; dorsal fin unnotched; dorsal and anal fins fully confluent with caudal fin; coloration dark brown to black, occasionally with faint reticular or barred pattern; numerous small, uneven brown spots on head; yellow paired fins. Dorsal rays modally 2; anal rays modally II, 19; pelvic spine hidden; segmented caudal rays 14, unbranched (Ref. 54980). |
| 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 | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 8 - 10 |
| Soft-rays total | 20 - 24 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 18 - 21 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 14 - 16 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position jugular | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 2 - 2 |