| Main Ref. | Hutchins, J.B. and S. Morrison, 2004 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | eel-like |
| Cross section | circular |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: Pelvic fins absent. Gill slit large. Postocular pore none; anterior, lacrymal, and posterior nasal pores absent. Vertebrae total 70, precaudal 23; last epineural on the 40th vertebra. Caudal rays 8. Dorsal origin posterior to the anus. This species differs from its congeners in having a moderately large gill opening (3.1-4.3 in HL); lack of a pelvic-fin rudiment, absence of all cephalic pores in the lateral-line system, and its large number (40) of epineural ribs. It possesses a short, blunt head with wide lips (giving it a rather pugnacious appearance), and short dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 56640). |
| 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 | 23 - 23 |
| total | 70 - 70 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |