Morphology Data of Malacoctenus zaluari
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Carvalho-Filho, A., I. Sazima, S.M.Q. Lima, D. Almeida, L. Mendes, R.M. Dias, M.R. Britto and J.L. Gasparini, 2020
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
Cross section oval
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished from its southwestern Atlantic congeners by the following set of characters: D XX,11-12 (rarely XXI,10); A II,19-21; pectoral rays 14; length of third pelvic ray contained 2.5 to 3.0 times in second pelvic-fin ray; lateral-line scales 51-53; total nuchal cirri 12-16; presence of pre-dorsal scales and pre-pectoral scales, when present are considerably smaller than scales on body; breast usually fully scaled on males, often naked on females; one pore, rarely absent, extend from preopercular canal onto opercle. Colouration: body with 5-6 saddle-like bars that do not extend on dorsal fin; two thin white bands on upper lip usually extending to snout (Ref. 123106).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Malacoctenus zaluari

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 51 - 53
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 7 - 8
on upper limb 3 - 4
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 20 - 20
Soft-rays total 11 - 12
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 2 - 2
Soft-rays total 19 - 21

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     0
Soft-rays   14 - 14
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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