| Main Ref. | Winterbottom, R., 1985 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | clearly convex |
| 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 |
Coloration varied, capable of changing its color. Spots or blotches on body form reticulations and crossbands; paler ventrally. Gill membranes ventrally free from the isthmus. Posterior otic sensory canal pore present. Cephalic sensory canal pores not pigmented. Description: Characterized by having pale caudal fin; absence of pelvic fins; small elliptical cycloid scales covering the body; body depth at origin of anal fin 39-80 % of HL (Ref. 90102). |
| 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 | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 4 - 10 |
| on upper limb | 1 - 4 |
| total | 5 - 14 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 17 - 18 |
| total | 74 - 84 |
| Attributes | continuous with caudal fin |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 68 - 74 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 57 - 66 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 7 - 11 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes suppressed/absent |
| Position absent | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 0 - 0 |