Morphology Data of Coptodon louka
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Teugels, G.G. and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 2003
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal bone about as long as broad, and with anterior lamella shorter than toothed area; median pharyngeal teeth not broadened; dorsal fin with 13-16 spines and 12-14 soft rays; soft dorsal and upper tip of caudal bordered with orange-red; "tilapia" spot clearly marked even in adults; dorsal and caudal fins not or feebly blotched (Ref. 53405).

Description: deep-bodied; mouth small; caudal fin slightly rounded (Ref. 52307). Outer jaw teeth bicuspid and non-spatulate, inner jaw teeth tricuspid, posterior pharyngeal teeth tricuspid with the lower cusp rather small; micro-gillrakers present; scales cycloid; pectoral region covered with very small scales (Ref. 53405).

Coloration: in life: adults: ground colour greyish to silvery, more whitish on belly and rather dark grey on back, occiput and snout; sides with 5-6 faint cross bars and horizontal band; lower part of cheeks and subopercle bright orange-red, and traces of this colouration on opercle and breast; first 1/4 of spinous part of dorsal fin uniformly grey, posterior part with 2-3 rows of light oblique bars between spines; soft part of dorsal fin with irregular light spots; well visible "tilapian" spot; distal margin of dorsal fin black on spinous part, orange-red on soft part; anal fin dark grey, with distal margin lighter and some light spots posteriorly; pelvic fins with black anterior margin: caudal fin with orange-red upper angle and light spots forming a network on proximal part and transverse series on distal part (Ref. 53405). Dorsal, caudal and anal fins often with red margin, sometimes their bases also appear reddish (Ref. 52307). Juveniles: less colourful than adults; anterior part of spinous dorsal fin and distal areas of soft dorsal and caudal fins darker, with much more black between branched rays (Ref. 53405).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Coptodon louka

Lateral Lines 2 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 27 - 30
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 9 - 11
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 13 - 16
Soft-rays total 12 - 14
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 8 - 10

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17