| Main Ref. | Poss, S.G., 1999 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Body scales form expanded spinous points; each scale forms a blade-like ridge (Ref. 39602). Description: Characterized by usually mottled dark grey color; median fins and pectorals with irregular white spots and blotches; head sometimes orange red with whitish band behind eye; separate fin is formed by first four dorsal spines separated by scales from succeeding spines; deep notch between seventh and eighth spines of second dorsal fin, giving the appearance of three dorsal fins; origin of dorsal fin above middle of eye; highly modified scales; two diverging spines in lacrimal; five blunt spines at rear margin of preopercle, decreasing in size ventrally; depth of body about 2.7-3.0 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 11 - 11 |
| 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 | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 12 - 12 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 8 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 12 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |