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Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-17; Vertebrae: 28-29. Diagnosis: It is distinguished from all congeners by the following unique combination of characters: males with about 20-30 spots on flank, each having a smaller diameter than the radius of the pupil, spots on proximal portion of anal fin, pectoral fin hyaline, pelvic fin reaching anal fin, dorsal fin tip reaching centre of caudal peduncle, females without spots; dorsal fin with 14-15 rays and 30-31 scales in median lateral series (Ref. 95020).
Description: Dorsal profile nearly straight on head, convex from nape to posterior extremity of dorsal fin base; ventral profile convex, slightly concave to nearly straight on caudal peduncle posterior to dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 95020). Snout pointed, mouth directed upwards, lower jaw longer than upper, posterior end of rictus at same level as or slightly above centre of eye (Ref. 95020). Branchiostegal membrane projecting posteriorly from opercle (Ref. 95020). Dorsal and anal fin rounded, shallow, located posterior to midbody, tips with short filamentous rays, dorsal fin tip reaching centre of caudal peduncle; rays of both fins with papillate contact organs; dorsal fin rays 14-15; anal fin rays 15-17; pectoral fin approximately triangular and short, posterior margin not reaching pelvic fin base; pectoral fin rays 18; pelvic fins tips reaching anal fin base; pelvic fin rays 6; caudal fin sub-truncate; caudal fin rays 30 (Ref. 95020). Scales cycloid, body and head entirely scaled, except on ventral surface of head; scales in median lateral series 30-31 + 3-4 on caudal fin base (Ref. 95020). Frontal squamation G-type; frontal neuromast series of 'open' type; supra-orbital series in shallow groove, with two neuromasts; preopercular canal with 6 pores; one neuromast on each scale of median longitudinal series (Ref. 95020). Basihyal bone fan-shaped, about 70-90% as wide as long; six branchiostegal rays; large path of teeth on vomer; second pharyngobranchial with a single tooth; antero-dorsal process of urohyal bifid; lateral process of post-temporal short (Ref. 95020). Total vertebrae 28-29 (Ref. 95020). Premaxilla and dentary with many irregularly distributed, unicuspid, slightly curved teeth of variable size, a small number of larger ones on outer row of upper and lower jaws (Ref. 95020).
Colouration: Male colouration in life: body and head scales light blue to an intermediate colour between light blue and light brown, darker dorsally, ventrally yellowish; flank with approximately 20-30 rounded reddish spots, more concentrated on dorsal and central portions of flank and caudal peduncle; superior lip, frontal, superior portion of head and dorsum greenish to brownish; dorsum with reddish dots extending onto caudal peduncle; inferior lip reddish, extending in an oblique bar below orbit; throat yellowish; opercular region with 3-4 irregular, incomplete, oblique reddish bars; branchiostegal membrane reddish with light blue rim; dorsal fin greenish to orange with dark red spots, irregularly fused proximally, narrow, light-blue sub-distal band and broad dark red margin; anal fin light blue proximally with dark red spots, greenish to orange medially, narrow, light-blue sub-distal band and broad dark red margin; pelvic fins greenish to orange with light blue tips; pectoral fins hyaline with light blue margin; caudal fin greenish to orange, darker near the base, with complete dark red margin; narrow, light-blue sub-distal light blue line on ventral and dorsal portions; iris golden (Ref. 95020). Female colouration in life: plain brownish to yellowish without spots (Ref. 95020). |