| Main Ref. | Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 1983 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase | Skull, Spine |
| Specialized organs | no special organs |
| Different appearance | males alike females |
| Different colors | males alike females |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | none |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | oval |
| 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 | |
| Diagnosis |
Anterior spines of first dorsal fin much higher than those mid-way, giving the fin a strongly concave outline. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Body naked except for corselet and lateral line. Swim bladder absent. A large rounded protuberances on 31st and 32nd vertebrae. Color is generally iridescent blue with black dorsal markings composed of 3 to 5 horizontal stripes. Also with variable black or dark gray spots above the pelvic fins. Occasionally with extensive longitudinal stripes of light gray on belly; some individuals have few or no belly markings. |
| 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 | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | absent |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | 33 - 39 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 37 - 37 |
| Attributes | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 8 - 10 |
| Ventral 6 - 8 | |
| Spines total | 10 - 15 |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 12 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 25 - 29 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |