| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished by the following set of adult characters: wedge-shaped disc with moderately concave anterior snout margin, width 31-35% TL, disc length 1.3-1.4 times width; snout length 3.0-3.4 times interspiracular distance, 3.9-5.2 times interorbital width; orbit medium-sized, 1.4-1.7 times spiracle length; notrils weakly oblique, length 1.3-1.6 times internarial distance; preoral length 6.8-7.8 times internarial distance; anterior nasal flaps which are penetrating slightly into internarial space but well separated at their insertion; posterior nasal flaps broad; spiracles large with two folds, outermost fold distinctly longer than inner fold; ridges of rostral cartilage almost parallel, converging slightly anteriorly but not constricted medially; anterior cartilage is subtriangular; distance between fifth gill slits 3.0-3.4 times in ventral head length; prebranchial sensory pore patch distinct, extending to just behind first gill slit; distinct postscapular sensory canal, with exposed lateral pores, grooved; thorn patches on supraorbit, nuchal and scapular regions, and dorsal midline rudimentary, non-conspicuous; in males, pelvic-fin inner margin longer than its base and in females subequal; interdorsal distance 2.6-3.2 times length of first dorsal-fin base; dorsal caudal margin 2.1-2.6 times preventral margin; upper jaw with ca. 65-92 tooth rows; post-synarcual centra, 173-179; nasal lamellae, 50-53; in adults dorsal surface brownish, covered with diffuse orange and dusky blotches, and indistinct pale spots; melanophores pronounced on dorsal surface, and dorsal fins largely pale anteriorly, darker posteriorly with a blackish blotch above the free rear tip when fresh (Ref. 97528). |
