| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E. and R.L. Pyle, 2001 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | ctenoid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Body depth 3.1-3.3 in SL; head length 3.15-3.3 in SL. Posterior edge of orbit without papillae. Caudal fin deeply emarginate to lunate, the caudal concavity 1.05-2.5 in HL. Body of males magenta with a large predominantly yellow area on back between base of 4th dorsal spine and 4th or 5th dorsal soft rays; head pink, suffused with yellow dorsally, with a pink-edged yellow band from eye to pectoral-fin base; fins mainly yellow except anal which is lavender with a yellow band; its upper lip slightly fleshy and finely papillae anteriorly, but not developed to a protuberance; its third dorsal spine moderately elongate, 1.5-1.95 in HL. Females orange-pink, shading to pink ventrally, the scales dorsally on body with dusky yellow centers; caudal fin bright yellow (Ref. 48242). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 45 - 49 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | 2.5 - 2.5 |
| Scale rows below lateral line | 16 - 17 |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | 26 - 27 |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 24 - 26 |
| on upper limb | 10 - 11 |
| total | 34 - 37 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 26 - 26 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 10 - 10 |
| Soft-rays total | 16 - 16 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | other (see remark); more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 7 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 17 - 18 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |