Morphology Data of Amphilius natalensis
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Skelton, P.H., 2001
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks Females grow larger than males (Ref. 51405).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral elongated
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth sub-terminal/inferior
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Description: Body narrow and slender, caudal peduncle longer than deep (Ref. 52193). Head depressed, short, 4.75-5 times in standard length, 1.1-1.3 times distance between head and dorsal fin; narrow, head width less than head length; eyes small, dorsal; mouth subterminal, 3 pairs of barbels, maxillaries reach pectoral base (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 1 unbranched and 6 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5-6 branched rays; adipose fin short with a notch behind in KwaZulu-Natal populations, or long, low and confluent behind in Mpumalanga and Zimbabwe populations; caudal fin forked (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Colour variable, usually spotted or mottled brown, sometimes dark brown, nearly black (Ref. 52193).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Amphilius natalensis

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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 7 - 7
Adipose fin present

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 8 - 9

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  behind origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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