| Main Ref. | Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 2011 |
| 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 |
A species of Opistognathus with an elongate supramaxilla and maxilla whose posterior end is produced as a thin flexible lamina that in adults extends to or beyond rear margin of opercle; inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with one conspicuous black stripe; in life, caudal fin uniformly white; first gill arch with conspicuous, small dark blotches (8–11), each adjacent to a gill-raker base; dorsal fin XI, 15; body with about 72–75 oblique scale rows (Ref. 88069). Description: Characterized by brown head, grading to yellowish and white ventrally; yellow lips with several brown bars; brownish body anteriorly, grading to bluish black on posterior half; caudal fin whitish (Ref. 90102). |
| 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 | 31 - 32 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 11 - 11 |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 15 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 15 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 20 - 21 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |