Morphology Data of Opistognathus eximius
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 2023
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
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished by the following characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending about 0.7 to 0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are very slender and tubular, the third infraorbital very elongate with large suborbital shelf; D XI,13; A II,12; vertebrae 10+16; scales on the belly minute and distinctly embedded; body with about 80-99 scale rows in horizontal series; vomerine teeth 1-3. Colouration: opercle with a conspicuous dark spot; color of sides and anal blue with large yellow spots (Ref. 128653).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Opistognathus eximius

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 25 - 28
on upper limb 14 - 17
total 39 - 44
Vertebrae
preanal 10 - 10
total 26 - 26

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 11 - 11
Soft-rays total 13 - 13
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 2 - 2
Soft-rays total 12 - 12

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     0
Soft-rays   19 - 21
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17