| Main Ref. | Zarei, F., Y. Sithole, U. Schliewen, R. Bills and A. Chakona, 2025 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: head and body pigmented, presence of eyes; predorsal midline naked or with up to seven scales, not extending over opercle; sides of predorsal area scaled to mid-opercle or behind it; all suborbital papillae lines 7-11 and those underside of head 12-13 single rows; anterior half of papillae Line 5 below eye double, single row posteriorely; presence of distinct predorsal blotch; blotch on caudal-fin base double and round, with the posterior blotch being slightly larger; pectoral-fin rays count 18-20, usually 18-19, having lighter coloration on the head and body; and fewer midlateral blotches 5-6, usually 5 (Ref. 137838). |
| 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 | 10 - 10 |
| total | 27 - 28 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 7 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 9 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 18 - 20 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |