| Main Ref. | Dawson, C.E., 1986 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | other |
| Different appearance | always different morphology between mature adults |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks | Males with brood pouch; females with ovipositor (Ref. 205). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | eel-like |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | tube-like |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Variable green to brown or grey, depending on habitat (Ref. 48635). Description: Characterized by variable white and dark markings on body; absence of caudal fin; rings 15-18 + 40-54; continuous superior and inferior trunk ridge with respective tail ridges; inconspicuous inferior trunk ridge; dorsally deflected lateral trunk ridge behind anal ring, ends below superior tail ridge near rear base of dorsal fin; length of snout 1.7-1.8 in head length; depth of snout 5.3-7.8 in snout length; head length 4.9-6.3 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| 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 | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 38 - 48 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 4 - 4 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 20 - 24 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes suppressed/absent |
| Position absent | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 0 - 0 |