Morphology Data of Pungu maclareni
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Negrini, M., 2005
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features none
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: mouth terminal (Ref. 26185, 53940). Distinctive fleshy lips (Ref. 26185, 52307), from which protrude rows of outwardly directed jaw teeth (Ref. 26185, 53949). Inner jaw teeth usually with 3 subequal cusps, outer row notched in juveniles but with simple replacements in adults (Ref. 26185, 53940). 7-8 lower outer teeth, 12-23 upper outer teeth; blade and dentigerous area of lower pharyngeal bone subequal, with slender teeth, firm and unicuspid posteriorly; colour variable, often silver-yellow (pale or intense) with dusky mottling concentrated on head and, to a lesser extent, midline (Ref. 26185). No Tilapia-spot on dorsal fin (Ref. 26185, 52307, 53940, 53949). Metallic blue highlights on operculum, dorsal and caudal fins (Ref. 26185).

Description: body robust, relatively deep (35.0-38.5% SL) (Ref. 81260). Snout somewhat rounded (Ref. 52307). Mouth small (Ref. 52307, 53949, 58527, 81260), with teeth clearly visible (Ref. 58527), and jaw teeth with reddish tinge (Ref. 52307). Lower jaw short (Ref. 53949), stout (Ref. 81260) and broad (Ref. 53949, 81260) with with 7-8 robust, procumbent, protruding teeth (Ref. 81260). In upper jaw 18-20, protruding, conical or weakly shouldered unicuspid teeth; lower pharyngeal jaw broadly triangular, a little longer than wide, teeth somewhat compressed and shouldered unicuspids (Ref. 81260). Lips thick (Ref. 52307, 53940). Muscular jaws specially developed (Ref. 52307, 53940) in relation to sponge-eating habits (Ref. 52307). Gill rakers on first gill arch short and conical (Ref. 53949, 81260). 2 series of scales on cheek; 5 scales between bases of pectoral and pelvic fins; 3 anal fin spine shorter than last dorsal; first soft ray of pelvic fin longest, second not much shorter (Ref. 53949).

Coloration: adults entirely silvery-gray or yellowish (Ref. 26185, 52307) to bright yellow (Ref. 58527, 81260), dorsum deeper golden orange (Ref. 81260), with 2 horizontal, poorly defined, black lines (Ref. 58527) made up of many irregular black spots (Ref. 52307, 53940): one in middle of body from opercle to caudal peduncle (Ref. 52307, 53940, 58527, 81260) and another, more diffuse line above lateral line (Ref. 58527) directly under dorsal fin (Ref. 52307, 53940, 81260). Upper black lines on left and right side unite on top of head in front of dorsal fin (Ref. 58527). Throat, cheek (Ref. 52307, 53949, 58527), chest (Ref. 53949, 58527, 81260), chin and operculum usually (dusky) black (Ref. 58527). Dorsal, caudal and anal fins dusky (Ref. 52307). Anterior edge of pelvic fins black (Ref. 52307, 53949). Body and fins with numerous black spots (Ref. 52307, 58527) of variable size (Ref. 58527), including nape, chest, flanks, caudal peduncle and caudal fin base (Ref. 81260). Black coloration becomes greyish under stress; lips sometimes bluish (Ref. 58527). Juveniles chestnut-coloured with more black spots, developing into adult coloration at about 2 years (Ref. 58527). No Tilapia-spot visible (Ref. 26185, 52307, 53949).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Pungu maclareni

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 29 - 30
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line 3.5
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle 14 - 16
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 13 - 16
on upper limb 2 - 3
total 18
Vertebrae
preanal
total 29

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 15 - 17
Soft-rays total 10 - 11
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 8 - 9

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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