Morphology Data of Plectranthias elaine
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 2009
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
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species has the following characters: color when fresh, dull red on head and body, shading to pale yellow ventrally, bases of median and pectoral fins irregular pale yellow or with white blotches; spinous dorsal fin is pale bluish white, as if daubed with thick paint; upper lip pale, with several red or white vertical bars; iris reddish orange, with short thin radiating blue-grey streaks. D X, 15, the fin margin moderately notched before soft-rayed part, with 3rd spine longest (24-30% SL), 1.8 in head length, short cirrus behind tips of spines 3, 4 and 5; A III,7, with 2nd spine longest, 2nd and 3rd anal-fin rays elongated; pectoral fins 14 rays, all branched except upper and lowermost 2 or 3 rays, fin reaching vertical at 3rd (4th) anal-fin ray; caudal fin slightly emarginate, principal rays 17, branched rays 15, 3 uppermost principal rays slightly produced; pelvic fins not reaching anus. Oval body with depth 2.1-2.5), head length 2.2-2.4, peduncle depth 7.2 (& 7.6) in SL; orbit diameter greater than snout length, 3.8 (3.4), snout length 4.8 (4.4-5.0), bony interorbital width 7.4 (9.8) in head length. Completer lateral-line with 31 (28, 30) tubed scales, 2 rows of large scales between middle dorsal fin spines and lateral-line and 3 scales from dorsal SL; orbit diameter 3.6-3.9, snout length, 4.1-4.8, bony interorbital width 8.0-8.5, all in head length. Lateral line incomplete, ending below middle of soft dorsal fin, with 16-20 tubed scales; 1 row of large scales between 5th dorsal-fin spine and lateral-line; circum-peduncular scales 12; scales on top of head extend to rear nostrils; operculum scaly, with 5-7 oblique series of large scales on cheek and a series along interopercle; snout suborbitals and lower jaw naked. Maxilla reaches past vertical at rear edge of eye; a row of 7-11 small ctenoid scales along (below) dorsal ledge of maxilla. Preopercle edge with 14-20 coarse serrae posteriorly; no antrorse spine on lower edge; subopercle and interopercle with 7-9 coarse serrae. Gill-rakers 4-5 / 9-11. Two supraneural bones, /0+0/2/1+1/1/1/ (Ref. 81822).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Plectranthias elaine

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 28 - 31
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line 2 - 2
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 9 - 11
on upper limb 4 - 5
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 10 - 10
Soft-rays total 15 - 15
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 7 - 7

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   14 - 14
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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