| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E., 1981 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | clearly convex |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Body of male orangish in life; large females similar in body color with males except for the absence of the large orange area beneath and around the pectoral fin base and the black spot on the dorsal fin. Inconspicuous stripes on head of females; juveniles and small females with 3 broad black stripes on head and body, separated by narrow pale blue stripes. Posterior caudal peduncle and fin principally dark brown or black. Juveniles nearly identical to juveniles of Diproctacanthus but have a longer dorsal fin (Ref. 48636). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 35 - 41 |
| 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 | 8 - 11 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 10 |
| total | 25 - 25 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 9 - 9 |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 11 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 10 - 10 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 14 - 14 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |