| Main Ref. | Murdy, E.O. and K. Shibukawa, 2001 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | other (see remarks) |
| Type of mouth/snout | other (see remarks) |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Pectoral -fin rays free and silk-like. Caudal fin long; SL more than 80% of TL (Ref. 45316). Two (rarely 3) anal fin pterygiophores preceding first haemal spine. Cycloid scales embedded on head and body. Eyes rudimentary but distinct, covered by skin. Several short barbels may be present on underside of chin (Ref. 45323). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 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 | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 10 |
| total | 30 - 34 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 6 - 6 |
| Soft-rays total | 38 - 49 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 35 - 44 |
| Pectoral | Attributes other (see remarks) |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 24 - 33 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes joint, cup-like |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |