| Main Ref. | Iwatsuki, Y., T. Matsuda, W.C. Starnes, T. Nakabo and T. Yoshino, 2012 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | short and / or deep |
| 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: D X,11; A III,10; total gill rakers on first arch 27-31, mode 27 (upper limb 7-10, lower 19-22); lateral-line scales 31-39, mode 35; body scales above pectoral fin with about 11-60 spinules on posterior margin, the number increasing with growth; generally rounded caudal fin in young, becoming somewhat double emarginate in adults (noticeable in specimens over 15.0 cm SL); absence of black margins on posterior soft portions of vertical fins; 5 white or pale vertical bands (often indistinct) on body about 1/2-3/5 width of pupil expanded ventrally and dorsally with latter angled posterodorsally, very notable in young, less obvious in adults (Ref. 94109). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 31 - 39 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | 11 - 15 |
| Scale rows below lateral line | 28 - 33 |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 19 - 22 |
| on upper limb | 7 - 10 |
| total | 27 - 31 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 10 |
| total | 23 - 23 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 10 - 10 |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 11 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 10 - 10 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 17 - 19 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |