Morphology Data of Megalops cyprinoides
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Smith, D.G., 1997
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features none
Body shape lateral elongated
Cross section compressed
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 superior
Type of scales cycloid scales
Diagnosis

Description: Body streamlined and compressed (Ref. 52193). Eye large; mouth large, lower jaw projects beyond snout; a bony gular plate present between the jaw bones; teeth extremely fine (Ref. 52193, 10982). Dorsal fin with 16-21 rays; anal fin with 23-31 rays; dorsal fin with last fin ray extended into a long filament, directly over pelvic fins; pectoral fins low on side of body near ventral margin; abdominal pelvic fins with 9 or more rays; caudal fin deeply forked (Ref. 52193, 10982). Scales large; lateral line scales 36-42; prominent elongate scales at base of paired fins; head without scales (Ref. 52193, 10982). Can tolerate oxygen-poor water by 'breathing' air into a modified lung-like swimbladder (Ref. 10982).

Colouration: Blue-green dorsally; silver on sides (Ref. 10982).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Megalops cyprinoides

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 36 - 42
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 30 - 35
on upper limb 15 - 17
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes other
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 16 - 21
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 23 - 31

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   15 - 16
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  before origin of D1
Spines     0
Soft-rays   10 - 11
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