Morphology Data of Schilbe marmoratus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. De Vos, L., 1995
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
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: adipose fin always absent; head rounded; lower jaw shorter than upper jaw; nasal barbel at least reaching to anterior border of opercle; inner side of pectoral spine feebly serrated; particular coloration characterized by irregularly marbled pattern; caudal and anal fin almost continuous (Ref. 43912).

Description: 43-59 branched anal fin rays; 39-43 non-fused vertebrae; 8-11 branchiostegal rays on one side of head; caudal peduncle always deeper than long; barbels rather well developed; nasal barbel reaches at least to anterior border of opercle and at maximum to just beyond posterior border of opercle; maxillary barbel reaches at least to just beyond opercle and at maximum to just before distal end of pectoral spine (when folded against body); inner mandibular barbel short and reaches at least to middle of eye and at maximum to just beyond eye; outer mandibular barbel at least reaches to posterior border of opercle and at maximum to 3/4 of length of pectoral spine; caudal fin moderately forked, both caudal fin lobes as well as pelvic fin lobes more or less rounded (Ref. 43912). A very peculiar species, somewhat resembling S. yangambianus (also a typical forest species) and S. brevianalis which also have an irregularly marbled coloration; S. marmoratus however is easily distinguished by the absence of an adipose fin (Ref. 43912).

Coloration: in life as well as in preserved specimens: dorsally dark brown; flanks irregularly marbled: dark brownish or blackish spots, alternating with paler irregular spots, present; large dark spot (tympanum spot) on each flank just behind head, where swim-bladder lies just below skin; belly and ventral side of head paler (whitish) and covered with small brown stripes and small spots; pectoral fins dark brown, outer rays darker than inner ones; dorsal fin dark coloured, often with pale rectangular region in middle; anal fin brown over its entire length; caudal fin dark at its base, followed by small pale zone, rest of tail (both fin lobes included) dark coloured (Ref. 43912).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Schilbe marmoratus

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 7 - 10
on upper limb 3 - 4
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

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

Caudal fin

Attributes forked

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     1
Soft-rays   9 - 10
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    abdominal  behind origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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