| Main Ref. | Springer, V.G., 1988 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Dorsal fin XII or XIII (rarely XII),16-18 (rarely 18), deeply notched between spinous and segmented ray sides. Anal fin II,19 or 20. Pectoral fin 13-15 (typically 14). Segmented caudal-fin rays 13. Vertebrae 10 or 11 (rarely 10) + 23-26 (typically 24 or 25) = 34-37 (rarely 34). Dentary incisor teeth which includes anterior canine teeth very similar in appearance with incisors 46-57; posterior dentary canines 0 or 1 (rarely 0) on each side. Lateral line without pairs of pores, terminating posteriorly at a point between verticals from dorsal-fin spines 8 and 10. With cirrus on posterior rim of anterior nostril; absent on anterior rim. |
| 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 | 34 - 37 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1notched No |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 12 - 13 |
| Soft-rays total | 16 - 18 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; with dorsal and ventral filament |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 19 - 20 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 13 - 15 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position jugular | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |