| Main Ref. | Victor, B.C., 2018 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
This species of Starksia is distinguished by having a scaled body, with only two apparent soft pelvic-fin rays, and a male intromittent organ attached to or separate from a first anal-fin spine separate to some degree from remainder of fin; in the species complex of S. lepicoelia, with mostly scaled abdomen, an orbital cirrus, male intromittent organ completely separate from first anal-fin spine, and with 13 pectoral-fin rays; Colouration: two discrete black bars on preorbital portion of lower lip in both females and males, and greatly extended, ribbon-like, white orbital cirri in mature males (Ref. 121206). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 35 - 37 |
| 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 | 9 - 9 |
| on upper limb | 3 - 3 |
| total | 12 - 12 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 19 - 20 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 9 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 17 - 17 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 13 - 13 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 2 - 2 |