Morphology Data of Hylopanchax paucisquamatus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Sonnenberg, R., J.P. Friel and J.R. Van der Zee, 2014
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 more or less normal
Position of mouth superior
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: Hylopanchax paucisquamatus is distinguished from all other known Hylopanchax species by a unique combination of morphological characters; by body-shape, it belongs to the group of more deep-bodied species in the genus (Ref. 96960). From the small, very slender H. moke it is distinguished by a deeper body, 26.1-27.2% of standard length vs. 16.3-20.2%; larger size, 22.0-26.1 mm standard length vs. 21.2 mm; a longer head, 26.7-29.6% of standard length vs. 17.9-23.7%; a deeper caudal peduncle, 11.8-12.2% of standard length vs. 7.7-11.3%; a longer dorsal-fin base, 11.7-13.1% of standard length vs. 5.9-9.9%; a lower number of mid-longitudinal scales, 19-21 vs. 23-26; a higher number of dorsal-fin rays, 9-11 vs. 6-7; and insertion of dorsal-fin above anal-fin ray 8 or 9 vs. 11-14 (Ref. 96960). From the slender H. stictopleuron and H. silvestris it is distinguished by a deeper body, 26.1-27.2% of standard length vs. 20.8-21.0% or 22.2-26.3% respectively; a slightly higher number of dorsal-fin rays, 9-11 vs. 6-8; a more anterior origin of dorsal-fin in relation to anal-fin, dorsal above anal-fin ray 8 or 9 vs. 12 or 13; and a lower number of mid-longitudinal scales, 19-21 vs. 24-25 (Ref. 96960). Hylopanchax paucisquamatus is distinguished from the two described deep-bodied species H. leki and H. ndeko by a longer predorsal distance, 68.8-70.7% of standard length vs. 61.0-67.8%; a narrower caudal peduncle and higher caudal peduncle ratio, 11.8-12.2% of standard length and 1.8-1.9 vs. 12.2-15.5% and 1.2-1.7; a shorter dorsal-fin base, 11.7-13.1% of standard length vs. 15.6-22.2%; a lower number of transverse scales, 15-16 vs. 18-22; a slightly lower number of dorsal-fin rays, 9-11 vs. 11-14; and a lower to slightly lower number of mid-longitudinal scales, 19-21 vs. 24-26 for H. ndeko and 21-23 for H. leki (Ref. 96960). It can also be distinguished from H. leki by a less deep body, 26.1-27.2% of standard length vs. 29.2-35.5%; and from H. ndeko by a longer caudal peduncle, 21.8-23.0% of standard length vs. 16.5-20.8% (Ref. 96960).

Description: A relatively deep-bodied Hylopanchax species, laterally strongly compressed; dorsal profile convex, greatest body depth approximately at pelvic-fin base; ventral profile convex from snout to end of anal-fin, concave on ventral caudal peduncle (Ref. 96960). Snout rounded, mouth directed upwards, lower jaw longer than upper jaw; outer row of larger and slightly curved conical teeth on both jaws, inner row with smaller and more irregularly arranged teeth, symphysis forming ridge on lower and upper jaw, branchiostegal appendages present in adult males (Ref. 96960). Frontal or nasal neuromast system absent, one pre-orbital neuromast in short, shallow open groove; post-orbital and supra-orbital neuromast system provided with large neuromasts and large lobes, covering a great part of the groove; pre-opercular neuromast system with 5 pores (Ref. 96960). Total number of vertebrae 29 or 30; hypurals fused into one large plate, 8 or 9 caudal-fin rays attached to hypural plate, posterior neural and hemal spines flattened (Ref. 96960). Scales cycloid, body completely scaled except ventral head surface, 1 or 2 rows of scales underneath eye, frontal head squamation of G-type, no scales on dorsal- and anal-fin base, scales on mid-longitudinal series 19-21, 3-4 scales posterior to hypural plate on caudal-fin base (Ref. 96960). Number of dorsal-fin rays 9-11, anal fin rays 17-18, caudal-fin rays 25-26, pectoral-fin rays 12-13; first dorsal-fin ray above anal-fin ray 8 or 9 (Ref. 96960).

Colouration: Preserved specimens brownish, darker on head, lighter ventrally; body covered with small melanophores, denser on dorsal and lateral scales, less dense on ventral (Ref. 96960). Fins translucent, paired fins brownish, dorsal with dark spots; faint narrow dark band present at base of anal-fin, crescent-shaped markings on flank scales, darker and broader on anterior large scales, urogenital papilla dark in males and ringed with dark pigmentation in females (Ref. 96960). Colouration of this species in life currently not known (Ref. 96960).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Hylopanchax paucisquamatus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 19 - 21
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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 29 - 30

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 9 - 11
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 17 - 18

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   12 - 13
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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