| Main Ref. | Myers, R.F., 1991 |
| 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 | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Description: Characterized by purple to violet color with numerous small dark blue to orange spots; red-orange band on snout to pectoral fin base; female similar, but lacks spots and has shorter dorsal, anal and pelvic fins; greatest depth of body 2.9-3.4 in SL; presence of fleshy protuberance at front of upper lip in male; no prolonged dorsal spine; deeply forked caudal fin with prolonged lobes in male (Ref. 90102). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 48 - 52 |
| 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 | 23 - 27 |
| on upper limb | 9 - 11 |
| total | 32 - 38 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1notched No |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 10 - 10 |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 17 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 8 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 16 - 19 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |