Main Ref. | Teugels, G.G., 1986 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | no special organs |
Different appearance | males alike females |
Different colors | males alike females |
Remarks |
Striking features | none |
Body shape lateral | elongated |
Cross section | circular |
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 | sub-terminal/inferior |
Type of scales | scales embedded or partly/completely absent |
Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: Head rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded; eyes dorsally located; frontal fontanelle `knife-shaped'; occipital fontanelle very long and oval-shaped; the `dermosphenotic' and supraorbital bones become joined in specimens of 80-90 mm standard length; tooth plates relatively small; dorsal and anal fins not confluent with caudal fins; gill rakers relatively long, slender and distantly set; openings of the secondary sensory canals arranged in regular pattern on the flanks (Ref. 248). Characterised by a relatively small, short head, 4-5 times in standard length, long barbels reaching to behind the head, and an elongated slender body with a long anal fin (Ref. 52193). Description: Dorsal fin with 71-94 rays; anal fin with 60-89 rays; pectoral fin spine with barbs along outer and inner edges; origin of anal fin nearer tip of snout than base of caudal fin (Ref. 52193). Gill rakers spaced, 13-19 on first gill arch; suprabranchial organ reduced, not filling chamber, with thick stubby branches (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Usually mottled, black or dark brown; lateral line may be marked in white (Ref. 52193). |
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) | absent |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | |
on upper limb | |
total | 13 - 19 |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total | 56 - 61 |
Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal |
Ventral | |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 71 - 94 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | |
Soft-rays total | 60 - 89 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines 1 | |
Soft-rays 9 - 9 | |
Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
Position abdominal behind origin of D1 | |
Spines | |
Soft-rays 6 - 6 |