| Main Ref. | Winterbottom, R., A. Iwata and T. Kozawa, 2005 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| 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 by the following characters: shares with Vanderhorstia papillo the elongated 5" (upper lobe) and 9" (lower lobe) branched caudal fin rays; differs from V. papillo in having more lateral scales (41-45 vs. 27); no scales in the predorsal midline (vs. 11); a unique color pattern (off-white background with large yellow spots along the midlateral body vs. such spots absent, and absence of four dark gray brown saddles on body vs. present); adults with both third and fourth dorsal spines elongate; more lower gill rakers on the first arch (16-17 vs. 10); fewer pseudobranch filaments (6-7 vs. 9); a single papilla in row c on the cheek (vs. 4) and row b not interrupted (vs. in two sections) (Ref. 53948). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 41 - 45 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | 10 - 12 |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 16 - 19 |
| on upper limb | 3 - 4 |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 26 - 26 |
| Attributes | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 7 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 11 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | other (see remark); with dorsal and ventral filament |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 11 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 16 - 18 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |