| Main Ref. | Hutchins, J.B., 1986 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | clearly concave |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
A strong first dorsal spine armed with 2 rows of prominent, laterally-directed barbs. Posterior margin of ventral flap not attached to large and barbed pelvic rudiment. Distinguished by a bright yellow ring around the eye (Ref. 1602). Head and body blackish brown to pale, pinkish brown; blackish band usually encircling the snout; eyes and surrounding area bright yellow. Caudal fin generally orange; soft dorsal and anal fins spotted, clear or yellowish orange basally; pectoral fins clear, base blackish brown. Scales on posterior half of body with spinules, number increasing with age; adult male with scale rugosities |
| Ease of Identification |
| 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 | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 19 - 19 |
| Attributes | other |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 1 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 31 - 34 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 27 - 31 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 14 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes other (see diagnosis) |
| Position abdominal behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |