Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: Body snake-like, cylindrical, compressed only along extreme tail tip; anterior nostril tubular, posterior along lower edge of lip; teeth granular to molariform, multiserial bands on jaws and vomer, but sharper on jaws and more pointed in young individuals; median fins not continuous posteriorly; extreme tip of tail stiff and finless; dorsal fin origin about a pectoral fin length behind tips of pectoral fins; lateral line inconspicuous (Ref. 4832). Description: Body snake-like, cylindrical, compressed only along extreme tail tip; head length 9-12 times in total length; body depth 30-36 times in total length (Ref. 3972, 7245). Eye relatively small; anterior nostril tubular, posterior nostril along lower edge of lip; snout moderately protruding in front of lower jaw; teeth in jaws and on vomer granular to molariform, in multiserial bands on jaws, intermaxillary and vomer; teeth sharper, more pointed and fewer in young specimens; a small papilla on upper lip behind base of anterior nostril, a smaller one below eye; throat swollen and supported by a basket of free branchiostegal rays that overlap below (Ref. 3972, 7245). Vertical fins discontinuous posteriorly, the extreme tip of tail stiff and finless; dorsal fin originating about a pectoral fin length behind tips of pectoral fins, which are well developed; pelvic fins absent (Ref. 7245). Lateral line system inconspicuous (Ref. 7245). Vertebrae 171-180 (Ref. 3972). Colouration: Uniform olive brown above, lighter below (Ref. 3972, 7245). Dorsal fin with a narrow black edge (Ref. 7245). |