Morphology Data of Chelidonichthys cuculus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Whitehead, P.J.P., M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.), 1986
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs no special organs
Different appearance males alike females
Different colors males alike females
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features striking fins
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Head large, without deep occipital groove. First dorsal spine serrate anteriorly, second spine not elongate. Lateral line scales plate-like expanded vertically. Breast and anterior part of belly without scales. Vertebrae 36-37 (13-14 precaudal and 22-23 caudal). Pectoral fin with last 3 rays free. Snout steep, prolonged forward by a denticulated and bilobed flattened rostrum.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Chelidonichthys cuculus

Lateral Lines 1 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 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) absent
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total 7 - 11
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 2
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 9 - 10
Soft-rays total 17 - 18
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total
Soft-rays total 16 - 18

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  several lower rays isolated
Spines     
Soft-rays   11
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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