| Main Ref. | Allen, G.R., J.E. Randall and B.A. Carlson, 2003 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | always different morphology between mature adults |
| Different colors | always different colors between mature adults |
| Remarks | Males are distinctively patterned with a brilliant red back and bold black margins on the dorsal and caudal fins. |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| 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 |
Diagnosis: Dorsal rays XI, 9; anal rays III, 9; pectoral rays 15; lateral line scales 16 + 7; median predorsal scales 5; horizontal scale rows on cheek below eye 2; gill rakers 18 - 19; body depth 3.1 - 3.2 in SL; head length 3.1 - 3.2 in SL; snout length 3.5 - 4.0 in head; caudal fin of females truncate to slightly emarginate, that of males lunate; pelvic fins of both sexes relatively short, not reaching anal fin origin when depressed; diagnostic live color pattern features of males include brilliant red upper half of head and body, greyish white lower, with four or five purplish stripes on lower half of body, yellow caudal fin, and bold black margins on dorsal and caudal fins; females mainly reddish pink with large and caudal fins; females mainly reddish pink with large black spot at base of uppermost caudal fin rays (Ref. 52303). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 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 | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 11 - 11 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 15 - 15 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |