Main Ref. | Woodland, D., 1997 |
Appearance refers to | Male; Female |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | no special organs |
Different appearance | always different morphology between mature adults |
Different colors | |
Remarks | Males have a slightly more elongated body than females. During the breeding season, males are generally smaller than females and the genital aperture of the female is more enlarged than that of the male (Ref. 87212). |
Striking features | none |
Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
Cross section | compressed |
Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
Type of eyes | more or less normal |
Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
Position of mouth | terminal |
Type of scales | cycloid scales |
Diagnosis |
This species is distinguished by the following characters: body compressed, moderately slender, its depth 2.3-2.8 in SL; last anal-fin spine 1.2-1.5 times in longest anal-fin spine (usually the third); soft parts of dorsal and anal fins low, longest dorsal-fin ray 0.7-1 times in longest dorsal-fin spine; caudal fin almost emarginate in specimens under 10 cm standard length, forked in larger fish; 16-26 (rarely 27) scale rows between lateral line and bases of leading dorsal-fin spines. Colour of body highly variable, greenish grey to yellow brown with numerous (100-200) pearly blue to whitish spots on nape and trunk, match-head size on lower sides; 2-3 rows between first spine of dorsal fin and lateral line (area of eye would cover about 6 spots in this region), and about 10 rows between highest point of lateral line and base of first anal-fin spine; when frightened or injured, sides mottled light and dark brown and cream, creating 6 or 7 regularly spaced, dark diagonal zones with paler zones of similar width between them; dark eye-sized spot usually just behind upper end of gill opening, and a narrow bar along upper edge of gill cover (Ref. 9813, 90102). Description: Closely resembles S. fuscescens but differs by its slightly more pointed snout and longer pectoral fins (1.1-1.3 in HL vs. 1.4-1.5 in S. fuscescens) (Ref. 1602). Color pattern is similar to that of S. argenteus and S. fuscescens. |
Ease of Identification |
Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
Scales on lateral line | |
Pored lateral line scales | |
Scales in lateral series | |
Scale rows above lateral line | 16 - 27 |
Scale rows below lateral line | |
Scales around caudal peduncle | |
Barbels | 0 |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | 16 - 21 |
on upper limb | 4 - 6 |
total | 20 - 27 |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | 10 - 10 |
total | 23 - 23 |
Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
Ventral 0 - 0 | |
Spines total | 13 - 13 |
Soft-rays total | 10 - 10 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | 7 - 7 |
Soft-rays total | 9 - 9 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays 15 - 18 | |
Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
Spines 2 | |
Soft-rays 3 - 3 |