Morphology Data of Himantolophus appelii
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Hearne, S., 2009
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

This species is distinguished in having the illicium with a bulbous distal light organ, originating from behind the tip of the snout; external second cephalic ray absent; esca without bony denticles; posterior appendage present, bifurcated at the base and each primary branch had a side branch near the base; distal appendage absent (Ref. 80772). Metamorphosed females characterized further by having a series of 2-7 filaments emerging from the anterior margin of the 2 primary branches of paired posterior escal appendage; posterolateral appendages simple or bifurcated at tip, longest is less than 10% SL in specimens less than 10 cm; presence of small dermal spinules on stem of illicium, escal bulb and escal appendages in specimens greater than 3 cm; low and indistinct papillae of snout and chin; skin devoid of white patches; caudal fin rays white or faintly pigmented in specimens less than 10 cm. Adult males with 11-13 olfactory lamellae; diameter of posterior nostril 5.7-6.7% SL, length of snout 17-18% SL; presence of about 20-25 upper denticular teeth and 22-32 lower denticular teeth (Ref. 86949).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Himantolophus appelii

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

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total 5 - 5
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total 4 - 4

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   17 - 17
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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