| Light organ |
Externally invisible; no bold melanophore pigmentation along midline of belly |
Short cleft-like in front of anus; with bold melanophore pigmentation on silvery background along midline of belly |
None [light organ externally invisible] |
| Spinule rows on scales from cheek and opercle |
Strongly divergent (Fig. 12A) |
Parallel to weakly divergent (Fig. 12B) |
None [spinule rows divergent at all sizes] |
| Spinule rows divergent, Spinule rows parallel to slightly None [spinule rows divergent at 3–5 in number; medial divergent, (5)6–8 in number; all sizes, 3–5 in number, medial Predorsal scales row conspicuously raised medial row only slightly less row conspicuously raised, more in comparison with that of inclined than that on flank scales strongly in smaller specimens] flank scales (Fig. 5J) (Fig. 5D) |
| Scales between first dorsal- Spinule rows more or less fin base and lateral line divergent |
Spinule rows clearly parallel |
None [spinule rows always parallel to slightly divergent] |
| Lateral buttresses of spinules of flank scales |
Strongly developed (Figs. 5K–L) |
Small to absent (Figs. 5E–F) |
Present [buttresses better developed in larger specimens] |
| Spinules on scales from area between nasal fossa, orbit and suborbital ridge |
Arranged in 1 to 3 rows |
Present [in clusters or in 1 short Arranged in clusters, rarely in 1 row in smallest specimens to 1-3 short row on some scales rows in larger specimens] |
| Scales in nasal fossa |
Present along anterior and lower border (Fig. 16D) |
Absent |
Present, but nasal fossa better scaled in smaller specimens |
| About 4; scales tightly Scale rows in narrowest joined, those in lowermost part of suborbital shelf row enlarged (Fig. 12C) |
Usually 1 (rarely 0 or 2); scales more or less separated by bare interspaces, all small (Fig. 12D) |
Present, but number of rows decreasing with growth; scales tightly joined at all sizes, those in lowermost row enlarged |
| Scale attachment on flanks, Adherent breast and belly |
Deciduous |
None [adherent at all sizes] |
| Scale attachment on under- Firmly adherent everyside of snout where |
Strongly deciduous in central portion of preoral region (or largely scaleless here in some specimens) and behind mouth |
None [adherent] |
| Suborbital shelf |
More steep (Fig. 13B) |
More angular (Fig. 13A) |
Similarly angular in all specimens examined |
| Suborbital shelf width |
9.0 % HL |
5.6–6.5 % HL (mean 6.1 %) |
6.5–7.9 % HL, not corresponding with growth |
| Body color |
Darker |
Paler |
Darker at all sizes |