| Main Ref. | Kottelat, M., 1990 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Distinguished from all other species of Oryzias by the unique black nuptial coloration of the adults males. Differs further by having slightly emarginate caudal fin (shared only with O. matanensis which has 40-47 scales in lateral row and O. orthognathus which has 45-54 scales in lateral row), 34-37 scales in lateral row, 8-11 dorsal rays and 21-25 anal rays (Ref. 26747). |
| 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 | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 11 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | more or less truncate |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 21 - 25 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 11 - 12 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position abdominal before origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 6 - 6 |