Main Ref. | Lévêque, C., 2003 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | no special organs |
Different appearance | different morphology in juveniles and adults |
Different colors | different colors in juveniles and adults |
Remarks |
Striking features | striking type of mouth |
Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
Cross section | |
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 | sub-terminal/inferior |
Type of scales | cycloid scales |
Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: distal margin of dorsal fin concave; body depth 1.9-3.0x SL; depth of caudal peduncle 0.8-1.2x its length; 24-42 (50-150mm) and 41-44 (150-250mm) gill rakers; scale formula 4.5-5.5/33-38/6.5; 3-4 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 12-16 scales around caudal peduncle; 9-10 dorsal fin branched rays (Ref. 2940, 81282). Description: body rather elongate; snout prominent and tuberculate; two pairs of rather short barbels; all specimens examined had 12 scales around caudal peduncle, except for populations from Ogun (14 and sometimes even 16 scales); dorsal fin with concave distal margin in adults and showing allometric growth, the longest ray growing proportionally faster than head length; D:III,(9)10; A:III,5; P:16-17; V:I,8 (Ref. 2940, 81282). Coloration: back blackish or greyish-green, belly whitish; dark longitudinal band along middle of sides from gill cover to end of caudal peduncle, bordered in live specimens by light yellowish bands; fins tinged with yellowish-pink; the above colour pattern is characteristic for juveniles or medium-sized individuals; pale bands bordering dark mid-lateral band tend to disappear after death, as well as in large individuals which are more uniformly colored on sides (Ref. 2940, 81282). |
Ease of Identification |
Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
Scales on lateral line | 33 - 38 |
Pored lateral line scales | |
Scales in lateral series | |
Scale rows above lateral line | 4 - 6 |
Scale rows below lateral line | 3 - 7 |
Scales around caudal peduncle | 12 - 16 |
Barbels | 0 |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | |
on upper limb | |
total | 24 - 44 |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total | 29 - 31 |
Attributes | no striking attributes |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal |
Ventral | |
Spines total | |
Soft-rays total | 12 - 13 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | |
Soft-rays total | 8 - 8 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 16 - 17 | |
Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
Position abdominal behind origin of D1 | |
Spines | |
Soft-rays 9 - 9 |