Main Ref. | Smith, C.L., 1997 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks |
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 |
Distinguished by having an elongated parieto-supraoccipital process, which is broader at base than distally, with its sides converging posteriorly to meet the predorsal plate, and 1.6 to 2.0 times longer than the width of its base. Differs also from other Caribbean sea catfishes by having 3 pairs of barbels, a crescent-shaped predorsal plate, much shorter than the parieto-supraoccipital process, and by lacking a fleshy furrow between posterior nostrils, a fleshy groove in a median depression of the head, and gill rakers on rear surfaces of the first two gill arches. Diagnosed from the eastern Pacific Notarius cookei by having a deeper body, with body depth 20.0-20.5% SL (vs. 17.3-17.9% SL in N. cookei). Attains a larger size of at least up to 8.45 cm TL and has a less exposed and rugose head shield than N. cookei with maximum size of 7.9 TL (Ref. 89868). |
Ease of Identification |
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 | 6 |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | 17 - 20 |
on upper limb | |
total | |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total |
Attributes | no striking attributes |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal |
Ventral | |
Spines total | 1 - 1 |
Soft-rays total | 7 - 7 |
Adipose fin | present |
Attributes | forked |
Fins number | |
Spines total | |
Soft-rays total | 19 - 21 |
Pectoral | Attributes |
Spines 1 | |
Soft-rays 10 - 13 | |
Pelvics | Attributes |
Position abdominal behind origin of D1 | |
Spines | |
Soft-rays |