| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E. and D.F. Hoese, 1985 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | clearly convex |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | superior |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Pale blue to light bluish gray in color. Operculum with 2 broad, curved, bright blue bands. 4 to 6 median barbels (like bumps in juveniles). 2nd spine of 2nd dorsal fin elongated; caudal fin of adults with trailing filaments; diagonally elongate red to violet spot usually present on lower base of pectoral fin. |
| 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 | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 17 - 21 |
| on upper limb | 6 - 8 |
| total | 23 - 28 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 10 |
| total | 26 - 26 |
| Attributes | other |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 7 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 24 - 26 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 22 - 25 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 21 - 24 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 4 - 4 |