| Main Ref. | Smith, C.L., 1997 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Deep-bodied wrasse with a strongly arched dorsal profile. First 3 dorsal spines filamentous. Only wrasse with elongate dorsal spines and such a highly arched profile (Ref. 26938). Color variable but generally mottled brownish red with a black spot at rear base of dorsal fin (Ref. 13442). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | 32 - 34 |
| 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 | 15 - 17 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 14 - 14 |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 11 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | 3 - 3 |
| Soft-rays total | 10 - 10 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 15 - 16 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |