| Main Ref. | Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 2011 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Gila elegans can be distinguished from similar species Gila cypha by having terminal mouth, angle along anal fin base continues well above caudal fin, more slender caudal peduncle, smaller hump on nape, usually dorsal fin with 10 rays; and 75-99 scales on lateral line. Breeding males with red lower side and pectoral and anal-fin bases (Ref. 86798). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 75 - 99 |
| 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 | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | forked |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position abdominal before origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |