| Main Ref. | Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2012 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Description: Dorsal fin IX-XI (usually X), 18-20, with short (9.2-14.2%SL) posteriormost ray; anal fin II, 18-20 (rarely 20); pectoral rays 15-18; pelvic fin I, 2; caudal fin segmented-rays 10-14; last dorsal ray joined to caudal fin but only scarcely; last anal ray may be barely connected also to the caudal fin but more often free. Supraorbital tentacle, slender and thread-like. Body deep, 3 in SL. (Ref. 90102). Several geographical variations. Adults almost black and some populations have a reddish tail. Juveniles often bright yellow (Ref. 48636). |
| 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 | 33 - 35 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 9 - 11 |
| Soft-rays total | 18 - 20 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 18 - 20 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 15 - 18 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 2 - 2 |