Morphology Data of Ctenopoma kingsleyae
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Norris, S.M., 2003
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

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

Diagnosis: snout blunt; jaws weakly protrusible (ascending process of premaxilla short, not reaching anterior border of orbit) (Ref. 57414). Pelvic fins very lightly pigmented (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191) or unpigmented (Ref. 81650). Labyrinth composed of a complex, multiple folded plate (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191). Adults larger than 75 mm SL; body depth into SL usually fewer than 3 times; spot at base of caudal fin without pale ring in adults; lachrymal never serrated (Ref. 57414). Body and head grey or tan (Ref. 81650), flanks without faint mottling (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191). 3-3.5 scales in upper and 8-8.5 in lower vertical series (Ref. 93191). 4 scales from last pored scale in upper lateral line to dorsal-fin base (counting pored scale) (Ref. 57414). 10-18 pored scales in upper lateral line (Ref. 81650), 9-14 in lower (Ref. 93191). 11-16 scales on right operculum; interorbit into head length 2.3-3.0 (Ref. 93191).

Description: body deep and oval (Ref. 57414). Head (Ref. 57414) and snout (Ref. 57414, 81650) blunt. Jaws only moderately protrusible (Ref. 57414, 81650). 1 cephalic pore in interocular space (Ref. 81650). 25-26 scales in lateral series; 13-17 scales in upper lateral line; 9-14 scales in lower lateral line; 3 (occasionally 4) scales above upper lateral line; 8 (occasionally 9) scales below upper lateral line; 11-16 scales on opercle (Ref. 57414, 81650). Operculum and suboperculum serrated; interoperculum sometimes serrated; preoperculum unserrated; 16 caudal fin soft rays (Ref. 57414). 4-16 serrations above and 3-9 below opercular notch, 9-26 subopercular serrations, 0-23 interopercular serrations, preopercle entire; soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins often thickly scaled nearly to tips with fine grey or brown scales (Ref. 81650).

Coloration: body, head and fins medium grey or brown; a dark spot marks base of caudal fin (spot ocellated in juveniles up to about 25 mm SL)(Ref. 57414, 81650). Paired fins usually unpigmented, although leading 2-3 interradial membranes in pelvic fins may be lightly tinted brown (Ref. 57414, 81650), this pigmentation feature more prominent in Congo basin populations than in those from Lower and Upper Guinea, in which pelvic fin pigment fades with size, sometimes completely absent from adults (> 70 mm SL)(Ref. 81650). Venter of living specimens sometimes silver and soft anal fin may be tipped with white; juveniles coloured dark chocolate brown with some lighter flecks and a narrow, pale vertical bar at level of dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 57414).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Ctenopoma kingsleyae

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series 24 - 27
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 25 - 26

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes extending over most of the back length
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 16 - 18
Soft-rays total 10 - 13
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 8 - 10
Soft-rays total 10 - 13

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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