| Main Ref. | Bruce, R.W. and J.E. Randall, 1985 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | different morphology in juveniles and adults |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | none |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | clearly convex |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Grayish brown when fresh with scales with fine whitish markings, shading to brownish red ventrally; head paler ventrally, an indistinct orange-brown line from orbit to upper lip; posterior to orbit, 3 short dull reddish lines. Flexible dorsal spines. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles, double emarginate with slightly prolonged lobes in large males. Skin black around anus. Lateral line interrupted. Brownish red pelvic fins with blotches or spots. Dull reddish-brown iris. |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 25 - 27 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | 1.5 - 1.5 |
| Scale rows below lateral line | 4.5 - 4.5 |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | 12 - 12 |
| Barbels | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | 10 - 14 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 9 - 9 |
| total | 25 - 25 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 9 - 9 |
| Soft-rays total | 10 - 10 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 13 - 13 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic beneath origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |