| Main Ref. | Allen, G.R., 1998 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | elongated |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Differs from Paraplotosus albilabris and P. muelleri in having a tall, sail-like first dorsal fin and extremely long nasal barbels, which extend posteriorly to the basal third of the pectoral fin or beyond (Ref. 31103). Small juveniles have a unique coloration consisting of a black head and body with a broad white to yellow margin on the first dorsal fin and continuous dorsal-caudal-anal fin (Ref. 31103). Adults entirely black (Ref. 31103). |
| 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 | 15 - 17 |
| on upper limb | 6 - 7 |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 115 - 130 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | confluent |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 87 - 102 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 13 - 15 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 15 |