GBIF Taxonomic Backbone & Wikipedia Registry Profile
Description. Based on 31 specimens 34 – 144 mm SL. First dorsal spines 6 (24 *); gill rakers on outer face of first arch 1 + 6 (1), 1 + 1 + 7 (6), 1 + 1 + 8 (5), 1 + 1 + 9 (3); segmented caudal rays 9 / 8 (16 *); vertebrae 11 + 16 (4); branched caudal rays 6 / 6 (4), 7 / 6 (3), 7 / 7 (15 *), 8 / 7 (1). Counts of other meristic characters given in Tables 1 – 5. Head depressed, length 33.2 – 36.9 % SL, width 16.8 – 18.3 % SL, depth 14.7 – 16.4 % SL. Snout long pointed in dorsal view, concave, with notch before eye in side view; 9.8 – 12.4 – % SL. Eye about 1.2 – 2.4 in snout, 7 – 8.3 % SL in specimens less than 100 mm SL and 4.9 – 7.1 % SL in specimens over 100 mm SL. Small bump below anterior nostril absent. Anterior nostril at end of short tube, 1 – 2 nostril diameters above upper lip. Posterior nostril a large pore, from eye and 1 – 2 anterior nostril diameters from anterior nostril and midway between upper lip and eye (young) to slightly closer to upper lip than eye (adult). Preoperculum long, distance from end of eye to upper posterior preopercular margin less than snout length. Postorbital very long, subequal to distance from tip of snout to posterior end of eye. Gill opening reaching to a point midway between posterior margin of eye and posterior preopercular margin. Teeth in upper jaw: outer row of teeth conical, slightly enlarged and wideset with smaller teeth in between larger teeth, 3 – 4 inner rows of smaller depressible, inwardly directed teeth, innermost row larger than middle rows. Teeth in lower jaw: teeth in outer row conical, slightly enlarged and wide-set anteriorly, 3 – 4 inner rows of smaller depressible teeth, teeth in innermost row larger than teeth in middle rows. Tongue tip bilobed. Gill rakers on outer face of first arch long and slender, one – third to one quarter filament length. Rakers on inner face of first arch and other arches short and denticulate. Body covered mostly with large ctenoid scales, cycloid on midpredorsal region, pectoral base, prepelvic area, operculum and belly. First dorsal fin triangular shaped, origin well behind pelvic insertion. Second dorsal fin subequal to first dorsal fin in height. Anal fin slightly lower than dorsal fins. Pectoral fin with rounded margin, reaching to above anus. Pelvic disc thin, much longer than wide, reaching just short of anus; fifth ray with 8 – 14 terminal tips. Head pores. Nasal pore directly above posterior nostril, rarely with extra pore adjacent to nasal pore (often on one side only); anterior interorbital pore present posterior interorbital pore present (single or paired); a single postorbital pore behind eye; infraorbital pore below postorbital present; lateral canal pore above preoperculum present; lateral canal pore above posterior preopercular margin absent; terminal lateral canal pore above operculum present; short tube above operculum, with pore at each end present; 3 preopercular pores, upper in line with lower margin of pupil; middle pore midway between other pores. Coloration in alcohol: Head and body dark brown, ventral surfaces light brown. A dark brown bar from anteroventral margin of eye to middle of upper jaw; posterior end of jaws light brown; a small brown spot behind eye; a short dark brown oblique bar from posteroventral margin of eye extending across cheek about half way to posterior preopercular margin; operculum with a large brown blotch anteriorly. A large brown spot (slightly larger than eye length behind upper pectoral base. A series of very large (greater than half body depth) elliptical dark brown spots on midside; first spot below first dorsal origin, second spot below second dorsal origin, third spot below posterior end of second dorsal fin, fourth on middle of caudal peduncle; small spot at end of caudal peduncle, continuous with large spot on bases of fin rays; back with large brown blotches and saddles, between and dorsal to midside spots. Leading edge of first 3 dorsal spines brown; second dorsal fin with small brown spots forming rows; anal, pectoral and pelvic fins clear, without distinct spots; caudal with small black spots forming wavy bands on upper four – fifths of fin, lower fifth of fin grey. Coloration in life (Fig. 8): Head and body tan to light brown with dark brown to blackish markings as described above for preserved specimens; Leading edge of both dorsal fins yellow; second dorsal fin with small brown spots forming rows; anal, pectoral and pelvic fins clear, without distinct spots; caudal with small black spots forming 5 – 6 wavy, most vivid on middle portion of fin.
