Morphology Data of Microsynodontis laevigata
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Ng, H.H., 2004
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks Males with numerous tubercles on sides of head on region extending from snout to preopercle, and long genital papilla situated immediately posterior to anus; females with fewer tubercles on sides of head, and with smaller, distally flattened genital papilla (Ref. 52369).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth sub-terminal/inferior
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: caudal fin truncate; anterior edge of pectoral spine smooth (Ref. 52369, 81251). Body moderately slender; adipose fin moderately long, its base 33.3-35.5% SL; caudal peduncle depth 9.3-11.4% SL; snout length 39-45.7% SL; eye moderate, its diameter 15.6-21.8% SL; both sexes with short (< 0.1 mm) tubercles on dorsal and lateral surfaces of head; supracleithral process not reaching to vertical through posteriormost tip of nuchal shield; dorsal spine curved (Ref. 81251).

Description: body compressed; predorsal profile steep; postdorsal body sloping gently ventrally; head depressed and broad, broadly rounded when viewed laterally and with rounded snout margin when viewed from above; eye ovoid, horizontal axis longest; mouth inferior and crescent-shaped; lips plicate; maxillary barbel long and slender, extending to just beyond base of last pectoral-fin ray; inner mandibular-barbel origin close to midline, extending to base of pectoral spine and with 2 short, thin branches on anterior half and 3-4 long, thin branches on posterior half; outer mandibular barbel originates posterolateral of inner mandibular barbel, extending to middle of pectoral-fin base and with 3-4 long, thin branches; gill openings narrow, extending from immediately ventral to posttemporal to immediately ventral to base of pectoral spine; dorsal fin located at anterior third of body, with convex margin; dorsal-fin spine short, stout and slightly curved, smooth on both anterior and posterior margins; adipose fin moderately long; margin slightly convex for entire length and posterior end deeply incised; caudal fin truncate, with i,6,5,i principal rays; anal-fin base located ventral to posterior half of adipose fin, with iv,6-7 rays and convex margin; pelvic fin origin at vertical ventral to posterior end of dorsal-fin base, with slightly convex margin; pectoral-fin spine slightly curved and stout; anterior spine margin smooth along entire length of spine; posterior spine margin with 7-8 strong serrations along entire length; lateral line complete and midlateral (Ref. 52369).

Coloration: dorsal and lateral surfaces of head and body medium brown, fading to cream on belly and ventral surfaces; medium-sized brown spots evenly scattered over ventral surfaces; snout with a series of cream spots delineating anterior and posterior nares; cheek region with numerous small cream spots ventral and posterior to orbit; cream band encircling nape at supraoccipital; dorsal third of body with series of 4 cream irregular blotches extending short of lateral midline of body: 1st at middle of dorsal-fin base, 2nd at adipose-fin origin, 3rd at middle of adipose-fin base and last on caudal peduncle immediately posterior to adipose fin; ventral third of flanks with a series of irregular cream blotches; dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins hyaline and sometimes with 1-2 rows of faint spots forming longitudinal brown rows; caudal fin hyaline, with elongate brown spots forming 2-3 irregular columns (Ref. 52369, 81251).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Microsynodontis laevigata

Lateral Lines 1 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 6
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 33 - 35

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 2 - 2
Soft-rays total 5 - 6
Adipose fin present

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 10 - 11

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  1st ray hardened with locking structure
Spines     1
Soft-rays   6 - 6
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  behind origin of D1
Spines     0
Soft-rays   7 - 7
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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