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Dorsal spines (total): 30-33; Dorsal soft rays (total): 84-98; Anal soft rays: 78-89; Vertebrae: 91-94. Diagnosis: 29+1 - 32+1 (median 31+1) dorsal spines; postorbital length 60.9-65.0% HL (mean 62.8%); pectoral fin 23.1-27.2% HL (mean 25.2%); distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible dorsal spine relatively long, 55.6-59.9% SL (mean 58.2%), decreasing with size; origin of soft dorsal fin at about same level as origin of soft anal fin; lower jaw relatively short, its length 14.4-23.1% HL (mean 18.3%), increasing with size; anterior origin of first dorsal spine situated before or just above posterior edge of pectoral fin, (- 12.2)-0.0% HL [mean (- 5.7%)]; distance from gill opening to dorsal pectoral fin base 4.3-9.6% HL (mean 6.9%) (Ref. 81678).
Description: 2-3 preopercular spines; 1 strong preorbital spine; preanal length 50.7-54.4% SL (mean 52.9%), decreasing with size; preanal length longer than postanal one; postanal length 43.9-48.0% SL (mean 45.9%), increasing with size; distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible anal spine relatively long, 56.2-63.6% SL (mean 59.1%); 93/94 mean soft rays in dorsal fin, 86 in anal fin; difference between number of soft dorsal fin rays and number of soft anal fin rays (+3)-(+10) (mean +7); 8-10 caudal fin rays (mean 10); 5-6 predorsal vertebrae (mean 6); 36-38 abdominal vertebrae (mean 38); (0)-(+1) in-between vertebrae (mean 0); 54-57 caudal vertebrae (mean 55), 93 mean total vertebrae (Ref. 81678).
Coloration: In preservation: overall colour uniformly light brown becoming lighter ventrally; dorsal mid-line with a series of large, dark brown, black spots sometimes extending along dorsal fin base; spots sometimes forming a more or less continuous dark brown, black band; a series of dark brown, black, spots originating as a continuous lateral dark brown to black band originating at base of rostral appendage and continuing posteriorly on sides up to half distance between head and anus and sometimes even reaching anterior part of tail; in between both series a pale line; lips, ventral surface of head, belly and abdomen yellowish white without spots; general colour of dorsal, caudal and anal fins light brown, somewhat transparent; margin of dorsal, caudal and anal fins often whitish; anal and/or caudal fin often with a broad dark brown, black band close to outer margin, separating small whitish outermost border from light brown basal part; pectoral fins whitish without any spots (Ref. 81678). In life: a vivid yellow band between both series of dark brown spots or bands originating on snout and reaching about up to 1/3 of distance between posterior border of head and anus; a less pronounced, vivid yellow spot under lateral dark brown series of spots or band at level of pectoral fin and another on upper jaw below dark brown lateral band (Ref. 81678). |