| 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 |
Geographical differences: specimens from the Gulf of Thailand usually with large blotches over the body; those from Indonesia and Australia generally have less solid markings. Species observed to alter its color from light to dark in captivity. Scales in vertical rows, 44-66 (Ref. 39597). Description: Characterized by deeply incised dorsal ray membranes of spinous portion; dorsal fin origin above centre of eye; two spines of lacrimal directed posteriorly; strong spine at border of preoperculum; depth of body 3.0 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 19 - 24 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | 65 - 75 |
| 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 | 7 - 11 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1notched No |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 12 - 15 |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 8 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 5 - 5 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 2 | |
| Soft-rays 10 - 11 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |