Morphology Data of Ctenopoma petherici
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Norris, S.M., 2003
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

Diagnosis: snout blunt; jaws weakly protrusible (ascending process of premaxilla short, not reaching anterior border of orbit); labyrinth composed of a more complex, folded plate; adults larger than 75 mm SL; body depth into SL usually fewer than 3 times; spot at base of caudal fin without pale ring in adults; lachrymal never serrated; flanks without faint mottling; scales in lower vertical series 10-11 (rarely 9); 5 scales from last pored scale in upper lateral line to dorsal-fin base (counting pored scale)(Ref. 57414).

Description: 13-17 pored scales in upper lateral line; 9-14 pored scales in lower lateral line (Ref. 57414, 93191). Interorbit 2.4-3.0 times into head length; 12-21 scales on right operculum (Ref. 93191). 3-5 scales above upper lateral line; 8-10 scales below upper lateral line (Ref. 57414, 93191). Operculum and suboperculum well serrated; interoperculum and preoperculum sometimes serrated (Ref. 57414).

Coloration: body, head and unpaired fins medium to light grey or brown, with belly usually lighter; dark caudal spot (ocellated in juveniles) well developed; pectoral and pelvic fins unpigmented; body in juvenile specimens (25 mm SL) chocolate brown with some tan mottling and a narrow, pale bar at level of dorsal-fin origin; Loiselle (1971) reported that living animals from Togo were olive-coloured with red irises (Ref. 57414).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Ctenopoma petherici

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series 25 - 28
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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 25 - 27

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes extending over most of the back length
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 16 - 19
Soft-rays total 9 - 12
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 8 - 10
Soft-rays total 9 - 12

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    behind origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17