Diagnosis |
This species possess the following characters: body relatively elongate and rather deep and compressed; a prominent lateral protuberance on each side just below pectoral fins; dorsal profile of head ascending from mouth to just before eye, continuing with a gentle incline to first dorsal spine; eye large, located posteriorly on head; supraorbital ridge is well developed and expanded dorsolaterally; a short shallow groove before eye, below nares which are close together just in front of eye; gill opening almost vertical, without enlarged osseous scales behind dorsal end of gill opening; the first dorsal spine long and stout, originating over gill opening; its anterior surface covered with two rows of downward directed small barbs; proximal part of the dorsal spine with several rows of smaller barbs, the second dorsal spine slender, much less than the first in length; third dorsal spine short, extending slightly above dorsal contour of body; the second dorsal and anal fins are almost oppositely placed, with origin of anal fin slightly posterior to that of second dorsal fin; both fins slightly rounded; rounded pectoral and caudal fins; body scales with numerous, erect, rough, flat-topped tubercles (Ref. 124446). |