| Main Ref. | Watson, W., 1996 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | striking fins |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | other (see diagnosis) |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Head and anterior part of the body depressed; posterior part of body gradually narrowing; back and sides of head with numerous spines; first dorsal fin formed by 3 isolated cephalic spines, the first of which resembles a fishing rod (bearing a scale that looks like "bait" and two prominent, dark "eyes") and three more short, thin, post-cephalic spines connected by a low membrane. Back brown or dark brown; belly lighter; fins darker distally but may have light edges; caudal fin with a vertical row of 6 pale spots (Ref. 55763). Head is flattened and mouth is large. The first two dorsal fin spines are displaced far forward (onto the snout), and the first is modified into a lure to attract prey. Branchiostegal rays: 6 (Ref. 36490). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 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 | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 0 - 0 |
| on upper limb | 0 - 0 |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 19 - 19 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 3 - 4 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 8 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 6 - 7 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 16 - 21 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes rays very elongated |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |