| Main Ref. | Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 1993 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | none |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | oval |
| 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 | |
| Diagnosis |
Preopercle rounded, the posterior edge distinctly serrate, with a large spine (usually covered with skin) projecting downward and forward at the angle. Color in life: head and body marbled reddish brown, with obscure bars and small dark and pale spots all over the head, body and median fins. Pectoral fins with 7 or 8 irregular transverse series of small dark spots (Ref. 5222); further characterized by having body depth less than or equal to head length, depth contained 2.3-2.8 times in standard length; caudal peduncle depth 11-12% of SL; eye diameter subequal to snout length, contained 4.1-5.5 times in HL; color in market: similar to color in life but color may fade to a buff, reticulations on pectoral fins usually remain (Ref. 89707). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 55 - 63 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | 71 - 75 |
| 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 | 14 - 16 |
| on upper limb | 5 - 7 |
| total | 19 - 23 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | 1notched No |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 11 - 11 |
| Soft-rays total | 17 - 19 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 16 - 18 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |