| Main Ref. | Suttkus, R.D. and M.F. Mettee, 2001 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Body very deep, averaging slightly less deep than N. merlini. Nuptial males with broad, lateral, bluish gray band; anterior rays of dorsal fin extend beyond posterior rays when depressed; when fresh; interadial membranes of dorsal fin almost entirely darkened with black pigment except for the orange along the base of the fin and bright yellow green on distal tips of anterior rays; caudal fins bright orange; anal fin membranes darkened with melanophores and overlaying wash of dull orange (Ref. 40813). |
| 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 | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total | 35 - 37 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 9 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 12 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 17 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position abdominal before origin of D1 | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |