Morphology Data of Bostrychus africanus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Harrison, I.J., P.J. Miller and F. Pezold, 2003
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 fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: 42-58 predorsal scales (Ref. 57413, 81660), extending to interorbital space (Ref. 57413). Cheek and opercle scaled (Ref. 81660). Small scales on operculum and preoperculum; 76-86 (perhaps up to 94) scales in longitudinal series (including 4 or more scales on caudal fin); 31-40 scales in rearward transverse series; 1st dorsal fin: VI; 2nd dorsal fin: I,9; anal fin: I,8; pectoral fins: 16 (Ref. 57413, 81660). Caudal fin rounded with 17 segmented rays, 15 of which are branched (Ref. 57413).

Coloration: Preserved specimens: dark brown or black, lighter ventrally (Ref. 57413, 81660). Several dark, vertical bars present along midline of flanks, last at base of caudal fin (Ref. 57413). Fins dark; a distinct dark spot on dorsal margin of caudal fin near its base; ventral margins of anal and caudal fins white; pelvics with white lateral margins (Ref. 57413, 81660).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Bostrychus africanus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series 78 - 86
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 6
on upper limb 3
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 2
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 7 - 7
Soft-rays total 9
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 1 - 1
Soft-rays total 8

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   16
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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