| Main Ref. | Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | no special organs |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | long whip-like tail |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| 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 | sub-terminal/inferior |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Rostral spine well developed with vertical basal component which projects dorsally, and a long forward projecting straight component; peritoneum and guts black; narrow weak band of basibranchial teeth; bones thin, weakly developed (Ref. 34024). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36413). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 77 - 85 |
| 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 | 12 - 19 |
| on upper limb | 4 - 5 |
| total | 17 - 22 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 55 - 58 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 99 - 113 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | pointed; confluent |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 81 - 98 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 24 - 26 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes reduced to filaments |
| Position jugular before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 2 - 2 |