| Main Ref. | Carr, E.M., R.P. Martin and J.S. Sparks, 2024 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | elongated |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
This species is distinguished from Malagodon madagascariensis by the following apomorphic features: lower anal-fin ray count 15-17 (vs. 18-19); longer caudal peduncle 26.8-39.8 (vs. 21.9-26.7% SL); expanded and platelike neural spine on arch of fifth vertebral centrum in both sexes (vs. thin and spinelike); neural spines on both sixth and seventh vertebral centra omewhat expanded and platelike dorsally (vs. narrow and spinelike) (Ref. 131565). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 28 - 29 |
| 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 | 17 - 17 |
| total | 30 - 32 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 8 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 17 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 8 - 9 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 6 - 6 |