Main Ref. | Watson, W., 1996 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | |
Different appearance | |
Different colors | |
Remarks |
Striking features | striking fins |
Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
Cross section | |
Dorsal head profile | |
Type of eyes | |
Type of mouth/snout | other (see diagnosis) |
Position of mouth | |
Type of scales | |
Diagnosis |
Head and anterior part of the body depressed; posterior part of body gradually narrowing; back and sides of head with numerous spines; first dorsal fin formed by 3 isolated cephalic spines, the first of which resembles a fishing rod (bearing a scale that looks like "bait" and two prominent, dark "eyes") and three more short, thin, post-cephalic spines connected by a low membrane. Back brown or dark brown; belly lighter; fins darker distally but may have light edges; caudal fin with a vertical row of 6 pale spots (Ref. 55763). Head is flattened and mouth is large. The first two dorsal fin spines are displaced far forward (onto the snout), and the first is modified into a lure to attract prey. Branchiostegal rays: 6 (Ref. 36490). |
Ease of Identification |
Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
Scales on lateral line | |
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 | 0 - 0 |
on upper limb | 0 - 0 |
total | |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total | 19 - 19 |
Attributes | |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
Ventral 0 - 0 | |
Spines total | 3 - 4 |
Soft-rays total | 8 - 8 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | more or less truncate |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 6 - 7 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 16 - 21 | |
Pelvics | Attributes rays very elongated |
Position | |
Spines 1 | |
Soft-rays 5 - 5 |