Morphology Data of Aseraggodes whitakeri
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., 2005
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral short and / or deep
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis. Dorsal rays 71-78; anal rays 48-53; pelvic rays 5 (3 in one side on one aberrant specimen); caudal rays 18, 14 branched (17 rays, 13 branched in one specimen). Lateral-line scales 77-86, including 10-12 anterior to a vertical at upper end of gill opening). Most scales of ocular side of body with 8-10 cteni (up to 11 on largest specimens); narrowest interorbital space with 2 scales; eyes with only I or 2 scales extending onto medial edge, and only about 3 rows anteriorly. Vertebrae 36-38; dorsal pterygiophores anterior to fourth neural spine 14-15. Body depth 2.55-2.75 in SL; head length (HL) 4.1-4.35 in SL. An overhanging fleshy snout, the lower edge of upper lip usually extending ventral to lower lip and jutting anterior to profile of head below mouth (more evident in smaller specimens); eye diameter 4.7-5.55 in HL; upper eye varying from one-half to full eye diameter anterior to lower eye; interorbital space very narrow, the vertical distance separating eyes less than half eye diameter. Caudal peduncle present, its length 7.2-10.0 in HL. Ventral edge of head posterior to mouth with 10-19 lappet-like cirri; edge of operculum at gill opening with slender well-spaced cirri on both sides; edge of lengthwise membranous ridges of dorsal and anal rays of ocular side with cirri, reduced and disappearing on about posterior half of fins; cirri also present on rays of blind side, but fewer and restricted to more anterior rays. Lateral line aligned with dorsal edge of upper eye; upper end of gill opening in line with ventral fleshy edge of lower eye; anterior nostril reaching fleshy base of lower eye when laid back. Caudal fin slightly pointed, its length 3.05-3.65 in SL; longest dorsal ray 1.4-1.8 in HL; anal rays and all but anterior dorsal rays of larger specimens branched distally; pelvic fins long 1.65-1.85 in HL, the tip of longest ray extending to base of third or fourth anal ray. Color in alcohol of ocular side of most specimens pale tan without any dark markings; American Samoan specimens with faint dark blotches in 3 rows on the ocular side, one row below base of dorsal fin, one along lateral line and one above base of anal fin; yellowish tan with many irregular pale markings partially outlined with dusky brown; fins pale with dusky specks (Ref. 57560).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Aseraggodes whitakeri

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 77 - 86
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 36 - 38

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total 71 - 78
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total 48 - 53

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   5 - 5
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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