Morphology Data of Pteragogus trispilus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., 2013
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 short and / or deep
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: D XI,9; A III,9; pectoral rays 13 (rarely 12); complete lateral line, angling sharply downward below soft part of anal fin to straight peduncular part; pored scales 24 (plus 2 on base of caudal fin, the last greatly enlarged); body moderately deep, depth 2.75-2.95 in SL; head length 2.7 in SL; dorsal profile of head straight in adult female, with adult male, a very a slight concavity above eye; interorbital convex; orbit diameter 4.15-5.4 in head length; straight part of posterior margin of preopercle serrate, the serrae varying from 14 on 27-mm paratype to 23 on 73-mm holotype; no long filaments extending from tips of dorsal spines; caudal fin rounded and moderately long, 2.7-3.1 in SL; very long first soft ray of pelvic fins, 2.0-3.3 in SL. Color when fresh olivaceous, scale edges dotted with white, an oblique elliptical black spot on opercle, broadly rimmed in yellow, a vertical white streak to each side of posterior edge of preopercle, scattered small black spots behind eye and on nape, pupil rimmed with orange, the rest of iris with 7 spoke-like dark lines, lateral line with black dots and dashes and white dots, median fins olivaceous with white dots on rays and oblique white lines on spinous portion ventral part of head and posterior opercle of male suffused with orange, females may have a whitish stripe from front of snout and broadening to pupil depth as it passes posteriorly on body below lateral line to upper base of caudal fin, longitudinal rows of white spots may be present on body ventral to pectoral-fin base, as well as faint orange spots; alcohol-preserved, yellowish brown with faint dark spots and dashes along anterior part of lateral line, fins translucent yellowish with a black spot on each of first three spinous membranes of dorsal fin of males (half size on third membrane), 2 spots on adult females (sometimes as faint small spot on third membrane) (Ref. 93522).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Pteragogus trispilus

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales 24 - 24
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line 2 - 2
Scale rows below lateral line 5 - 5
Scales around caudal peduncle 16 - 16
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 25 - 25

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 11 - 11
Soft-rays total 9 - 9
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

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

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   12 - 13
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     1
Soft-rays   5 - 5
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