| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: body very elongate, its depth 9.1-13.6% SL (m = 12.0)(Ref. 57129). Head short and broad (Ref. 248, 571429), oval-shaped dorsally (Ref. 248), its length 17.8-22.7% SL (m=21.1), its width 13.4-17.0% SL (m=16.0)(Ref. 57129). Snout broadly rounded; eyes more laterally placed (Ref. 248). Interorbital distance large, 44.7-54.8% HL (m = 49.5)(Ref. 57129). Tooth plates broad (Ref. 248, 57129), width of premaxillary plate 31.8-41.3% HL, width of vomerine plate 25.6-35.0% HL (Ref. 57129). Frontal fontanelle intermediate between "knife-shaped" and "sole-shaped"; occipital fontanelle rather long and oval shaped; supraorbital and "dermosphenotic" bones become joined in specimens between 80 and 100 mm TL (Ref. 248). Dorsal and anal fins very long (63.2-72.0% and 49.7-57.6% SL respectively) (Ref. 57129). Gill rakers small, slender and distantly set; suprabranchial organ partially fills chamber; pectoral spine rather thin and slightly curved (Ref. 248).
Coloration: no information on colour in life (Ref. 57129). Preserved specimens: 2 types of colouration: one uniform, with back and sides blackish-brown and belly beige; and a marbled pattern with light spots against a dark background on back and sides, and pale brown on belly (Ref. 57129). Caudal fin with dark vertical bar occupying 2/3 of its base, dividing it in a dark anterior and a light posterior part (Ref. 57129). |