Morphology Data of Ophichthus aphotistos
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. McCosker, J.E. and Y.-Y. Chen, 2000
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral eel-like
Cross section oval
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 sub-terminal/inferior
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Body uniformly grayish or brown to nearly black. Dorsal fin origin well behind pectoral fin tips; pectoral fin rounded, not elongate and well-developed. Posterior nostril a hole above the upper lip, covered by a flap that extends to or below the edge of the mouth. Upper lip lacks barbels between anterior and posterior nostrils. Pores small but conspicuous, SO 1 + 4, IO 4 + 2, POM 6 +2. Teeth small and conical, biserial on anterior vomer and jaws (Ref. 40865).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Ophichthus aphotistos

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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 158 - 162

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes pointed

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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