| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E. and D.F. Hoese, 1985 |
| Appearance refers to | Male; Female |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | protruding genital papilla (m) |
| Different appearance | always different morphology between mature adults |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks | Genital papilla in males is pointed and smooth whereas in females, it is rounded and spongy (Ref. 528). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | superior |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Pale to bluish gray in color; pectoral fin base with a narrow, pale blue-edged, black band; postorbital head with irregular, pale to iridescent blue bands and spots. Chin with a median, fleshy protuberance narrowing to a thin fold. Scales embedded, close-set, non imbricate (except on posterior part). 1st dorsal fin lower than 2nd; 2nd dorsal and anal fins elevated anteriorly. Closely resembles P. heteropterus but lacks the blue mark on the tail (Ref. 1602). |
| Ease of Identification |
| 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 | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | 19 - 23 |
| on upper limb | 6 - 7 |
| total | 25 - 30 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 10 |
| total | 26 - 27 |
| Attributes | other |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 7 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 25 - 29 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 - 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 24 - 27 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 21 - 24 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 4 - 4 |