| Main Ref. | Paugy, D. and T.R. Roberts, 2003 |
| 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 | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: body short and robust, its depth 4.2-5.2 times in standard length; head as long as broad, dorsal surface rough; maxillary barbels non-membranous and unbranched, up to 2 times longer than head; mandibular barbels with short, simple ramifications; humeral process long and pointed; 1st dorsal-fin spine smooth on anterior and posterior margins; 2nd dorsal fin with 10-14 rays; pectoral-fin spines more strongly denticulate on inner than on outer margin; caudal fin deeply forked, with upper lobe slightly longer than lower (Ref. 57223). Coloration: general colour pattern similar to that of M. niloticus |
| 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 | 6 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 |
| Ventral 0 | |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | forked |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 |
| Soft-rays total |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position abdominal behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays |