Morphology Data of Pterophyllum scalare
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Keith, P., P.-Y. Le Bail and P. Planquette, 2000
Appearance refers to Male; Female
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs no special organs
Different appearance males alike females
Different colors males alike females
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features striking shape of body
Body shape lateral short and / or deep
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile clearly concave
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Body compressed and disc-shaped; dorsal and anal spiny rays increasing in length from anterior to posterior part of the fin; first branched rays also very long; body height at anal fin level 1.07 to 1.29 times in SL; body color silvery with dark vertical bars (7 in juveniles, 4 in adults) (Ref. 35237).

Ease of Identification likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Pterophyllum scalare

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series 30 - 39
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 other
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; with dorsal and ventral filament

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  rays very elongated
Position    thoracic  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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