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Dorsal spines (total): 24-26; Dorsal soft rays (total): 89-103; Anal soft rays: 80-93; Vertebrae: 86-90. Diagnosis: head relatively long, 15.7-21.1% SL (mean 18.2%), decreasing with size; origin of first dorsal spine situated before posterior edge of pectoral fin, (-9.5)-(-0.5)% SL [mean (-6.3%)]; body relatively deep, 7.8-9.6% SL (mean 8.7%); distance from tip of snout to last externally visible dorsal spine 49.0-56.2% SL (mean 52.1%), decreasing with size; origin of soft dorsal fin clearly anterior to origin of soft anal fin; lower jaw length 21.3-26.9% HL (mean 23.9%), increasing with size; distance from gill opening to dorsal pectoral fin base relatively short, 4.3-9.6% HL (mean 6.9%); 23+1 to 25+1 (median 25+1) dorsal spines (Ref. 81678).
Description: 2-4 preopercular spines (median 2); 1 preorbital spine; preanal length 47.7-52.0% SL (mean 50.5%), decreasing with size; preanal length larger than postanal in small specimens becoming equal in length and even smaller in larger-sized specimens; postanal length 46.6-51.2% SL (mean 48.5%), increasing with size; distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible dorsal spine shorter than distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible anal spine; distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible anal spine 53.4-59.6% SL (mean 56.4%), decreasing with size; 97 mean soft rays in dorsal fin, 87 in anal fin; difference between number of soft dorsal fin rays and number of soft anal fin rays (+1)-(+17) (mean +11); 11-13 caudal fin rays (mean 12); 5-7 predorsal vertebrae (mean 6); 32-33 abdominal vertebrae (mean 33); (+1)-(+4) in-between vertebrae (mean +2); 54-57 caudal vertebrae (mean 56), 88 mean total vertebrae (Ref. 81678).
Coloration: Preserved specimens: overall colour uniformly light brown; dorsal mid-line with a series of dark brown spots extending along dorsal, caudal and anal fin bases; dark brown lateral band originating at base of rostral appendage and continuing posteriorly on sides of body and tail as a series of large X-shaped blotches forming some more O-shaped blotches and a dark brown network on tail; lips, ventral surface of head and belly yellowish white with some dark brown bands or markings on belly; general colour of dorsal, caudal and anal fins whitish sometimes with a second, more or less continuous, ill-defined, dark brown band close to outer margin of unpaired fins; margin of unpaired fins whitish; pectoral fins whitish with or without some dark brown to black spots; unpaired fins darker in large specimens; colour pattern relatively variable (Ref. 81678). In life: palest parts of pectoral fins and anal fin vivid yellow or yellowish; overall colour of ventral surface
of head, body and tail light brown (Ref. 81678). |
