| Main Ref. | Allen, G.R., 1989 |
| Appearance refers to | Male; Female |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | other |
| Different appearance | males alike females |
| Different colors | males alike females |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | striking fins |
| Body shape lateral | elongated |
| 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 |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Body stout and elongate. Dorsal fin originating on the middle of the back, confluent with caudal and anal fins. Body covered with large, bony, overlapping scales. The head is flattened, with conical profile. The eyes are small; the mouth is reaching about half the distance to eye. The pectoral fins are large and flipper-like in ventral position just behind the head; the pelvic fins are also flipper-like, situated far back on the body. |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 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 | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | greatly reduced or absent |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 0 - 0 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | pointed; confluent |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 0 - 0 |
| Pectoral | Attributes other (see diagnosis) |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes other (see diagnosis) |
| Position abdominal | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |