Morphology Data of Pseudoscopelus scriptus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Melo, M.R.S., 2010
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

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
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species can be distinguished from other members of the Pseudoscopelus scriptus species group by a single character, anal-fin photophores (saf) not extending anterior to the level of anus (vs. extending anteriorly to level of or beyond anus). It is further distinguished from the other species by a set of characteristics: mesial series of premaxillary teeth in 3-4 rows (vs. single row in P. obtusifrons and P. pierbartus); mesial series of teeth in rows of 3-4 teeth gradually increasing of size from lateral to mesial (vs. in rows of 2-3 teeth, with internal row much larger than other teeth in P. cordilluminatus); total vertebrae 35-36, precaudal 18-19 (vs. 31, 14 in P. cephalus);pigmentation in the internal part of mouth exclusive to a dusky area in the skin covering regions with teeth on premaxilla and dentary (vs. internal area of mouth and gill arches black in P. sagamianus ) (Ref. 85782).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Pseudoscopelus scriptus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales 73 - 78
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 0 - 0
on upper limb 0 - 0
total 0 - 0
Vertebrae
preanal 18 - 19
total 35 - 36

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 2
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 7 - 9
Soft-rays total 19 - 22
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total
Soft-rays total 19 - 22

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   12 - 14
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  beneath origin of D1
Spines     1
Soft-rays   5 - 5
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17