| Main Ref. | Holleman, W., 2007 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks | Male and female different pigmentation (Ref. 75031). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: Medium to large species of the genus. Dorsal fin III + XIII+ 10, 2nd fin twice the 1st; anal fin I, 19; pectoral rays 16 (1+8+7); pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays simple, partially united by membrane. Vertebrae 10+24-25. LL total lateral scales 37-38; tubed 21-31 (geographically variant means), ends below junction of 2nd and 3rd dorsal fin; nape, belly, 1st dorsal fin and anterior anal-fin bases scaleless, caudal-fin base with 2 rows of scales. Mandibular pores 5+1+5. Orbital cirrus simple and small. Head length 3.3-3.7 in SL; eye 2.6-3.2, maxilla 2.2-2.6 in HL. Males body with red and black spots evenly scattered, vertical stripes from dorsal fin to midline of side, and silvery spots below midline; head with blue stripe from mouth corner to preopercle, upperlip corner with crimson markings, black in the center (Ref. 75031). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 37 - 38 |
| 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 | 10 - 10 |
| total | 34 - 35 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 3 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 10 - 17 |
| Soft-rays total | 10 - 11 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 19 - 19 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 15 - 16 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position thoracic | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 2 - 2 |