| Main Ref. | Cohen, D.M., T. Inada, T. Iwamoto and N. Scialabba, 1990 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | striking fins |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Head bones and integument are relatively tough; eyes are of moderate size; chin barbels are long and prominent; adults over 30 cm have a pronounced hump-back appearance; caudal fin is absent; the first fin rays of the dorsal pectoral and pelvic fins are very elongated; body color is generally brownish; the fin membranes, mouth and gill chamber blackish (Ref. 1371). This species does not have light organs (Ref. 6187). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 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 | 18 - 21 |
| on upper limb | 4 - 6 |
| total | 22 - 27 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | first fin ray very elongated |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | other (see remark) |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total |
| Pectoral | Attributes other (see diagnosis) |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 22 - 27 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes other (see diagnosis) |
| Position thoracic beneath origin of D1 | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 8 - 8 |