Morphology Summary - Opistognathus wassi
Morphology Data of Opistognathus wassi
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 2023
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

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 its congeners by the following set of characters: rigid upper jaw with no flexible lamina posteriorly, extending about 0.5 to 0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals slender and tubular, 3rd infraorbital without wide sensory canal openings, no suborbital shelf; D X-XI, 10-12, typically 11; A II, 10-11, typically 10; vertebrae 10+16, exceptionally 15; body with 51-62 scale rows in horizontal series; total gill rakers usually 33-37; chin with a conspicuous black band; dorsal fin with a prominent ocellus with inner dark spot beginning at spines 3 or 4 and ending at spines 5 to 8; double row of large pale spots on the side of body (Ref. 128653).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Opistognathus wassi

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 33 - 37
Vertebrae
preanal 10 - 10
total 25 - 26

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 10 - 11
Soft-rays total 10 - 12
Adipose fin

Caudal fin  (shape guide)

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total 2 - 2
Soft-rays total 10 - 11

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   19 - 21
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
(e.g. 9948)
(e.g. oophagy)
Back to Search
Comments & Corrections
cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17