| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: distinguished from Neolebias by its always complete lateral line; caudal peduncle 1-1.5x longer that high (Ref. 2936, 86396). 32-36 scales in a longitudinal series (Ref. 81638, 86396). Four, rarely 5, scales between dorsal fin origin and lateral line (Ref. 81638). 11-16 (Ref. 86396) or 12-14 (Ref. 81638) total dorsal fin rays. 10 (Ref. 86396) or 9-11 (Ref. 81638) total anal fin rays.
Description: small elongate fish, body moderately deep, 0.28-0.38 SL and laterally compressed; mouth terminal with two rows of bicuspid teeth in each jaw (Ref. 2936, 81638, 86396). Maxilla extending to the anterior border of eyes (Ref. 2936, 86396). Premaxilla with 11-12 teeth in outer row, maxilla with 2-3 teeth along anterodorsal margin, dentary with 11-12 teeth in outer row; adipose fin present; 4 scales between lateral line and anal fin origin; D: III,9-11; A: II-III,7-8 (Ref. 81638).
Coloration: preserved specimens yellowish tan; dark chromatophores on upper lip, snout and head; field of dark chromatophores extending from behind orbit to rear of opercle, sometimes forming horizontal band continuous with dark mid-lateral band on body; scales dorsal to lateral line with exposed portion of scale dark other than for ctenii and immediately adjoining portion of main body of scale; caudal fin with dark band on middle rays and with scattered dark chromatophores on remainder of fin; anterior rays of dorsal fin with dark chromatophores; chromatophore field denser on distal portions of rays; remainder of dorsal fin and central portions of pelvic and pectoral fins with scattered chromatophores; live specimens with dark mid-lateral band prominent and with dorsal and caudal fins suffused with red, more so in males (Ref. 81638). Back olivaceous-grey, lower parts and belly whitish; dark mid-lateral band from eye to caudal fin, comprising lower thirds of lateral-line scales and two thirds of those in next-lower series; black spot on dorsal-fin tip (Ref. 2936, 86396). |
