Morphology Data of Plectropomus laevis
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 1993
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 oval
Dorsal head profile clearly convex
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth superior
Type of scales ctenoid scales
Diagnosis

Description: Characterized by having two distinct color varieties, first is pale black-saddled form is whitish or pale yellowish with 5 dark brown to black, irregular, saddle like or wedge shaped bars or blotches on the dorsal part of head and body, 1st just behind the eyes, 2nd on the nape and 3rd to 5th under the dorsal fin; small dark-edged blue spots may be visible on the body; yellow colored fins, caudal peduncle, snout and jaws; black blotch centrally at the base of the paired fins; dark form is brown, olivaceous, red or nearly black, dark bars are usually faint or absent; numerous round, dark-edged blue spots on head and body, soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins and base of pectoral fins; pectoral fins dark brown distally, rays darker than membranes, rear edge white; flat interorbital area without scales; broadly rounded preopercle, with 3 large, ventrally directed spines along lower half; smooth interopercle and subopercle; opercle with 3 flat spines, upper and lower spines covered by skin; subequal in size, posterior and anterior nostrils, set in shallow groove running forward from eye; front of jaws with pair of large canine teeth (Ref. 89707); 1-4 large canines on side of lower jaw; elongate body, greatest depth 2.9-3.9 in SL; slightly emarginate caudal fin; pectoral and pelvic fins 2.1-2.5 in head length (Ref. 90102).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Plectropomus laevis

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 83 - 97
Pored lateral line scales 92 - 115
Scales in lateral series 123 - 153
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 - 3
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1notched No
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 7 - 8
Soft-rays total 10 - 12
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 - 8

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   16 - 18
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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