| Main Ref. | Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 1980 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Gill opening extending ventrally to opposite 5th-11th pectoral-fin ray; segmented dorsal-fin rays 13-15; segmented pelvic-fin rays 3; last dorsal-fin spine 8.5-15.5% SL; dorsal-fin spines robust and stiff; no elongate fleshy flap present posteriorly on lower lip; infraorbital bones 5; upper lip with free dorsal margin extending around snout; fleshy lobes of lower lip almost semicircular in lateral view and separated anterioventrally by a broad shield-shaped lobe; bony interorbital width comparatively narrower; dark spot usually absent in spinous dorsal fin, but if present centered on third spine; mandibular pores 3. |
| 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 | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1notched No |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 11 - 13 |
| Soft-rays total | 13 - 15 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 14 - 17 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 13 - 15 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position jugular | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 3 |