Main Ref. | Iwamoto, T. and A. Williams, 1999 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks |
Striking features | other (see diagnosis) |
Body shape lateral | eel-like |
Cross section | compressed |
Dorsal head profile | clearly convex |
Type of eyes | more or less normal |
Type of mouth/snout | |
Position of mouth | sub-terminal/inferior |
Type of scales | |
Diagnosis |
The snout moderate in adults to long in young, sharply pointed, 38-50% of head length (HL), anterolateral margin completely supported by bone Orbit diameter less than postorbital length of head, 24-30% HL, 1.3 - 2.1 times into snout length. The upper jaw extending posteriorly to below hind margin of pupil. Short, narrow, pointed flap of subopercle. Short, naked black fossa of light organ anterior to anus, with the anus removed from anal fin by one or two scale rows. Underside of head with small, finely spinulated scales except along the border of the mouth, ventral and posterior margins of preopercle, and anteriorly on lower jaw. Scattered scales on nasal fossa, mostly confined ventrally. Body scales with short overlapping spinules in 4-7 divergent rows, none especially broad-based nor enlarged. Fins without prominent markings (Ref. 35909). |
Ease of Identification |
Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
Scales on lateral line | 30 - 42 |
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 | continuous with caudal fin |
Fins number | 2 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal |
Ventral | |
Spines total | 2 - 2 |
Soft-rays total | |
Adipose fin |
Attributes | pointed; confluent |
Fins number | |
Spines total | |
Soft-rays total |
Pectoral | Attributes |
Spines | |
Soft-rays | |
Pelvics | Attributes |
Position | |
Spines | |
Soft-rays |