Morphology Data of Coptodon walteri
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Teugels, G.G. and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 2003
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
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal bone about as long as broad, with anterior lamella shorter than toothed area; median pharyngeal teeth not broadened; upper part of caudal fin yellow-orange, lower part greyish; dorsal fin with 15-16 spines and 12-14 soft rays; 9-13 lower gill-rakers (Ref. 53405).

Description: deep-bodied; head short; frontal profile steep (Ref. 52307). Outer jaw teeth bicuspid and non-spatulate, posterior pharyngeal teeth tricuspid (Ref. 53405).

Coloration: in life: juveniles: ground colour greyish with 5-6 dark cross bars and sometimes dark horizontal band; soft part of dorsal and upper part of caudal fins uniformly grey; well marked "tilapian" spot, disappearing in adults (Ref. 53405). Adults: uniformly grey, but distal area of soft part of dorsal and upper part of caudal fins orange-red; spinous dorsal fin blackish distally (Ref. 53405). Lower part of caudal fin gray to grayish-blue; anterior body parts occasionally a bit reddish (Ref. 52307).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Coptodon walteri

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 29 - 30
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 9 - 13
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 15 - 16
Soft-rays total 12 - 13
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 9 - 10

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17