Morphology Data of Symphurus brachycephalus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Lee, M.-Y. and T.A. Munroe, 2021
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 flattened
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: ID pattern1-2-2-2-2; caudal-fin rays 12; vertebrae, abdominal 9 (3 + 6), total 45-48; hypurals 4; D 81-87, A 69-74, longitudinal scale rows 72-82, transverse scale rows 26-30, scale rows on head posterior to lower orbit 15-18; with a moderately wide body (BD= 24.9–27.5% of SL); preanal length short (PAL = 21.4-25.9% of SL); head relatively short (HL= 17.3-20.8% of SL) and with its length usually shorter than its width (HW/HL= 1.04-1.19); postorbital length relatively long (POL = 69.6-74.9% of HL); upper head lobe is usually wider than lower head lobe; dorsal-fin origin at, or slightly posterior to, vertical through posterior margin of upper eye; predorsal length long (PDL = 22.4-28.9% of HL); snout relatively short (SNL = 13.4-19.4% of HL, SNL/ED = 1.21-1.71), rounded to obliquely blunt anteriorly; eyes moderate (ED = 9.5-12.7% of HL); equal in position (anterior margin of upper eye equal to anterior margin of lower eye, or slightly subequal with anterior margin of upper slightly in advance of anterior margin of lower eye); a membrane covering both eyes; fleshy ridge well-developed on the posterior part of ocular-side lower jaw; with continuous fleshy membrane connecting anterior nostril to ventral part of lower eye. Colouration: ocular-side pigmentation uniformly yellow to light brown, blind-side uniformly white; both sides of body with distinct dermal spots on bases of anteriormost dorsal- and anal-fin rays; peritoneum reddish, with bluishblack pigmentation on dorsalmost surface (Ref. 126065).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Symphurus brachycephalus

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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal 9 - 9
total 45 - 48

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total 81 - 87
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total 69 - 74

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   4 - 4
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