Morphology Data of Ambassis natalensis
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Anderson, M.E. and P.C. Heemstra, 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 fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: Ambassis natalensis has following combination of characters: supraorbital spines 1-4; rostral spine absent; rear margin of preopercle entirely serrate; preopercle ridge smooth except for 1-5 tiny spines at rear corner; interopercle smooth or with 1-4 tiny serrae at angle; two rows of cheek scales; predorsal scales 9-11; lateral line continuous; lower gill rakers 19-22; pectoral-fin rays 14-15; teeth on vomer and palatines in 2-3 rows (Ref. 50956).

Description: Dorsal fin with 8 spines and 9-11 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9-11 soft rays; pectoral fin with 14-15 rays (Ref. 4318, 50956, 52193). Lateral line usually continuous, with 27-29 scales, several specimens from Mauritius with lateral line interrupted by 2-3 scales on one or both sides; vertical scale rows 28-30; horizontal scale rows 9-10; cheek scale rows 2; predorsal scales 9-11 (Ref. 50956, 52193). Gill rakers 8-10+19-22 (Ref. 4318, 50956). Supraorbital spines 1-4, more numerous in largest specimens; preorbital ridge smooth in smallest specimens, becoming serrate at about 35 mm standard length; preorbital edge with 5-11 serrae; retrorse rostral spine absent; preopercle ridge smooth except for 1-5 small spines at lower rear corner; lower edge of preopercle with 9-18 serrae, rear margin enirely serrate; interopercle with 1-4 minute spines at angle (Ref. 50956). Teeth in villiform bands on vomer, palatines, tongue and jaws; palatine teeth in 2-3 rows in fish over about 20 mm standard length (Ref. 50956).

Colouration: Live colouration translucent greenish-brown dorsally, head and abdomen silvery; scales with minute melanophores; membrane between second and fourth dorsal-fin spine dusky, black at tip; black lineations along bases of unpaired fins (Ref. 50956).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Ambassis natalensis

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 27 - 29
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 19 - 22
on upper limb 8 - 10
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 8 - 8
Soft-rays total 9 - 11
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 9 - 11

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   14 - 15
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
Comments & Corrections
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