|
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 17-19; Vertebrae: 36-38. Diagnosis: Caudal fin membrane clear to pale orange towards midline; anal fin extending over three quarters of length of caudal peduncle; caudal peduncle short; operculum entirely, not partially, shiny; body midline silver, not black; iris dark to light grey, not white; head with tubercles along lower jaw and lower head in breeding males; snout rounded, with dense dark spotting on tip; pelvic fin melanophores absent (Ref. 116496).
Description: Body elongated, somewhat fusiform, laterally compressed; maximum body depth before pelvic fin; pre-dorsal profile straight or slightly convex behind head (Ref. 116496). Head length 21% of standard length; with tubercles along lower jaw and lower head; snout rounded, short, 32% of head length; mouth terminal, slightly crescent-shaped with long anterior side, reaching anterior border of orbit; nostrils large, level with dorsal margin of eye, separated from orbit by less than one orbit radius; tubular anterior naris short, adjacent to open posterior naris; eye lateral, visible from above and below, more prominent, its diameter 32% of head length (Ref. 116496). First gill arch with 7+3 gill rakers on cerato- and epibranchial arms, respectively; gill rakers long, pointed, widely-spaced; pharyngeal bones in three rows; pharyngeal teeth 4,3,2-2,3,4, robust and long, falcate (Ref. 116496). Fins large in relation to body size; dorsal fin closer to caudal fin than tip of snout, more or less above origin of anal fin, its length 17% of standard length, posterior margin straight, rays soft, anterior-most branched fin ray longest; pectoral fins largest, reaching 1/2 to 3/4 distance to base of pelvic fin, fin lacking lobe at base; pelvic fins reaching 2/3 distance to base of anal fin, relatively small, pointed, fin lacking a basal lobe; anal fin moderately long, extending over 3/4 length of caudal peduncle, last unbranched ray longest; ano-genital opening at anterior of base of anal fin; caudal peduncle short, half of length; caudal fin forked, lobes pointed, upper lobe shorter (Ref. 116496). Scales small to medium relative to body size, in regular rows, cycloid, slightly elongated, radially striate; base of anal fin lacking sheath of enlarged, elongate scales; lateral line present, complete, dipping drastically towards ventral at tip of pectoral fin, joins midline at posterior of caudal peduncle, scale count 49-51 along lateral line, 14-16 around caudal peduncle (Ref. 116496).
Colouration: Live colouration: body without vertical bars or bands; dorsum transparent pale brown with melanophores concentrated around dorsal fin, midline silver; snout with dense dark spotting on tip; operculum entirely metallic silver; iris dark to light grey; dorsal fin membrane clear, rays clear, melanophores fading towards tips; caudal fin membrane clear to pale orange towards midline, rays dark grey, lighter towards tips, melanophores small, dark, fading towards rear; anal fin rays clear, membrane clear, pale orange spotting above origin, melanophores few to absent; pectoral fin membranes clear, rays clear, first ray few dark melanophores; pelvic fin rays clear, membrane clear (Ref. 116496). Preserved colouration: body and head orange with small dark brown spotting along dorsal surface, midline and above anal fin; scales on dorsal surface lightly pigmented; ventral scale pigmentation less intense than dorsal; dorsal surface of head lightly pigmented; melanophores small, dark, grouped on rear of head, below orbit, and on lips and snout, along midline, increasing in intensity to caudal fin, brownish on dorsal surface, darkening between origin of pectoral and dorsal fin, forming small dark line above anal fin; membranes between fin rays clear; pelvic fin clear membranes and rays (Ref. 116496). |