Morphology Data of Brachysomophis crocodilinus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. McCosker, J.E. and J.E. Randall, 2001
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 eel-like
Cross section circular
Dorsal head profile more or less straight
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin arising well behind pectoral tips; pectoral fins teardrop-shaped; snout very short; jaws elongate; anterior nostril in a very short tube in upper lip, closely followed by an ethmoidal pore, a barbel, and the posterior nostril which is in outer lip and entirely covered by a flap; labial cirri numerous, unbranched and slender in anterior half of lip of mandible, those posterior and along lower lip branched at tips; flesh above and behind eye laterally elevated as a ridge; dorsal head profile notably incised and medially constricted behind eyes, the flesh forming a narrow transverse ridge behind dorsal margin of eyes; head pores and lateral-line pores apparent; free sensory neuromasts visible as rows of small white spots on nape; teeth conical (Ref. 42180). Lateral-line pores and temporal pores typically in dark spots; smaller dark spots present irregularly on flank between lateral line and dorsal fin of larger specimens (Ref. 42180). Eye small, coloured like the head, and placed towards the front of the long mouth (Ref. 48635).

Description: Characterized by head length 6.5-8.0 times in total length; body depth 16-25 times in total length; tail length equal to or less than body length (head and trunk) (Ref. 3972, 90102). Snout short, 13.0-19.0 in head length; eyes prominent and bulged; gape very large; numerous close-set cirri on side of jaws; upper jaw with two rows of fang-like teeth, the inner series larger; lower jaw with well-spaced canines; largest canines in single row on intermaxilla and vomer; lips fringed (Ref. 3972, 90102). Pectoral fin present; dorsal fin origin well behind head (Ref. 3972). Vertebrae 116-124 (Ref. 3972, 42180).

Colouration: brownish, lighter below and on fins (Ref. 3972).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Brachysomophis crocodilinus

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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal 53 - 63
total 116 - 124

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes pointed

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  other (see remarks)
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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