Morphology Data of Gagata melanopterus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Roberts, T.R. and C.J. Ferraris Jr., 1998
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 elongated
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile clearly convex
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout other (see remarks)
Position of mouth sub-terminal/inferior
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Body silvery, either without marking or with faint saddles. Fins, except caudal fin, blackened at least distally. Dorsal spine tip not reaching to adipose-fin origin when adpressed. Premaxilla with 2 rows of teeth. Adpressed anal fin fails to reach first lower procurrent caudal-fin rays. Mouth near snout tip; oral opening transverse, entirely ventral to nares; free lips absent. Anal fin with 4-6 simple rays, 10-12 branched rays. Differs from G. gagata in having its dorsal spine not reaching adipose-fin origin (versus reaching and even extending beyond adipose origin when dorsal-spine is depressed); smaller pelvic fin not reaching anal-fin origin (versus reaching anal-fin origin); last anal-fin ray not reaching first lower procurrent caudal-fin rays (versus extending posteriorly to origin of lower procurrent caudal-fin rays); complete bony encapsulation of the swim bladder (versus incomplete); and 2 rows of teeth on the premaxilla (versus 4 rows) (Ref. 40780).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Gagata melanopterus

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 10 - 11
on upper limb 6 - 7
total 16 - 18
Vertebrae
preanal 19 - 20
total 39 - 41

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 1 - 1
Soft-rays total 6 - 6
Adipose fin present

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     1
Soft-rays   8 - 10
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  behind origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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