Morphology Data of Meiacanthus urostigma
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Smith-Vaniz, W.F., U. Satapoomin and G.R. Allen, 2001
Appearance refers to Male; Female
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

A species of Meiacanthus with dentary glands positioned ventraly and encapsulated in dentary bone; no lateral line; mid-point of supratemporal canal ending in pair of pores; only 2 pores each in mandibular and posttemporal series; posttemporal bone reduced, wedge-shaped without ventral arm; infraorbital bones; and colour pattern characterized by uniformly pale tan body with narrow dark lateral stripe extending from snout to near beginning of bright orange-yellow caudal peduncle, where it is typically interrupted and replaced by elongate black spot.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Meiacanthus urostigma

Lateral Lines 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
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 32 - 34

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 4 - 5
Soft-rays total 22 - 24
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes other (see remark); with dorsal and ventral filament

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total 2 - 2
Soft-rays total 15 - 16

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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