Morphology Data of Myoxocephalus quadricornis
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Morrow, J.E., 1980
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Identified by the four bony protuberances on the top of the head (the protuberances are smaller in females and young and absent in the freshwater form), the chainlike lateral line, the sharp spines on the preoperculum, and the absence of palatine teeth (Ref. 27547). Gill rakers reduced to rounded, spiny protuberances (Ref. 27547). Soft dorsal often much enlarged in adult males; caudal truncate to slightly rounded (Ref. 27547). Young gray above, with three or four dark saddles below dorsal fins and a dark spot on dorsal side of caudal peduncle; adults are darker; spiny dorsal fin dusted with black; soft dorsal, anal, pectoral and caudal fins have dark bars; pelvic fins pale (Ref. 27547).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Myoxocephalus quadricornis

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales 45
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 7 - 8
Vertebrae
preanal
total 37 - 42

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 2
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 7 - 9
Soft-rays total 13 - 16
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 13 - 17

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     0
Soft-rays   15 - 18
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic
Spines     1
Soft-rays   3 - 4
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