Morphology Data of Oreochromis ndalalani
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Seegers, L. and H. Tichy, 1999
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 elongated
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: A very small slender species with a narrow ventrally-placed mouth (Ref. 118638). Mature males have dark-edged dorsal and anal fins, iridescent blue-white spots on flanks, white lower lips, and a spotted caudal fin; male breeding dress shows geographic variation, with males of some populations having yellow throats and white bellies, while others are a fiery orange underneath (Ref. 118638). Females and non-territorial males are sandy-coloured, paler ventrally, sometimes with faint vertical bars (Ref. 118638).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Oreochromis ndalalani

Lateral Lines 2 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 28 - 30
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 9 - 10
on upper limb 1 - 3
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 13 - 14
Soft-rays total 9 - 12
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 4
Soft-rays total 9 - 11

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   12 - 13
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  beneath origin of D1
Spines     1
Soft-rays   5 - 5
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