Morphology Data of Naso lituratus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., 2005
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 short and / or deep
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI (rarely V or VII),26-29(modally 27); A II,27-30 (rarely 27 or 30); pectoral rays usually 17; body depths of adults 2.6-3.0 in SL; head dorsal profile sloping and smoothly convex (forehead no horn nor protuberances); two large peduncular plates, the keels with forward-projecting points in adults; caudal fin emaginate in young and truncate in adults; body brown to bluish gray, ventral half yellowish gray to yellow, the demarcation along middle of side often abrupt and irregular; edge of opercle and preopercle usually with a dark brown band; margin of lower lip broadly white with upper surface of tongue black in adults; gill rakers are blackish basally; blue caudal fin with a broad, brownish yellow, posterior border which narrows toward corners of fin; it is capable of changing overall into light grayish blue, as when at a cleaning station; when in courtship the males quickly display a broad, bluish white zone on the nape and anterior part of the body , followed by narrow bars of the same color that extend onto lower side (Ref. 54980).

Description: Characterized further by yellow forehead; pelvic fins yellow; caudal peduncle with pair of bony plates, each with sharp forward projecting keel; large adult male with prolonged filaments on caudal fin lobes; greatest depth of body 2.2-2.7 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Ease of Identification likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Naso lituratus

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 8 - 9
on upper limb 4 - 4
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 6 - 6
Soft-rays total 26 - 29
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes other (see remark)

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 2 - 2
Soft-rays total 27 - 30

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   17 - 18
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  beneath origin of D1
Spines     1
Soft-rays   3 - 3
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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