| Main Ref. | Keith, P. and J. Allardi (coords.), 2001 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | no special organs |
| Different appearance | males alike females |
| Different colors | males alike females |
| Remarks | Externally, males are difficult to distinguish from females, except for the more slender shape of males when sexually ripening (Ref. 28727). |
| Striking features | none |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | circular |
| 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 | terminal |
| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: body stout, cylindrical in cross-section, slightly compressed; head broad and flattened (Ref. 57400). Well developed adipose eyelid (Ref. 40476, 57400) covering most of pupil (Ref. 57400). Upper lip thin and without papillae, armed with 1-6 rows of fine teeth; hind end of upper jaw reaching a vertical line from anterior eye margin; maxillary pad not visible below corner of mouth when closed; origin of 1st dorsal fin nearer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base; anterior parts and bases of 2nd dorsal and anal fins with a moderately dense coverage of scales; pectoral axillary process; 14-15 scale rows between origins of dorsal and pelvic fins (Ref. 57400). Description: lips thin; pectoral fins short (when folded forward does not reach eye); anal spines 3 in adults, anal soft rays 8 in adults, 9 in larvae (Ref. 40476). Coloration: back bluish-grey (Ref. 57400) to olive-green (Ref. 40476). Sides and belly silvery (Ref. 40476, 57400) with golden reflections (Ref. 57400), white ventrally (Ref. 40476). Sides usually with longitudinal dark lines (Ref. 57400), sometimes distinctive (Ref. 40476). Pelvic fins, anal, and lower lobe of caudal fin yellow (Ref. 57400). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 36 - 42 |
| 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 | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | no striking attributes |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 5 - 5 |
| Soft-rays total | 7 - 9 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 8 - 9 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 16 - 18 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position abdominal before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |