Morphology Data of Melichthys indicus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Smith, M.M. and P.C. Heemstra, 1986
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 short and / or deep
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Narrow white margin round caudal fin; live specimens bluish or violet (Ref. 4420).

Description: Characterized further by dark greyish-black head and body color; fins jet black in color; base of dorsal and anal fins with white band; front of eye with deep groove; corner of mouth to lower end of gill opening with 27-31 head scale rows; body scale rows from upper end of gill opening to caudal fin base 60-70; not prominent longitudinal ridges following scale rows of posterior body; truncate to slightly rounded caudal fin (Ref. 90102).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Melichthys indicus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series 60 - 70
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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 2
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 30 - 35
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 27 - 30

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     0
Soft-rays   14 - 16
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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