Key to Chelidoperca found in Taiwanese waters

The following data are based on our examination on Taiwanese specimens (Table 2 & 3; also Tang & Ho, 2021: Table 4).

1A. Three scale row between the lateral line to the base of 6th dorsal-fin spine....................................... .. 2

1B. Four scale rows between the lateral line to the base of 6th dorsal-fin spine........................................ 4

2A. Pored lateral-line scale (LLS) 43‒44; cheek scales rows 6‒7; without red ocellus on opercular membrane when fresh; two black spots present at each side of snout (when fresh and preserved)........................................... C. santosi

2B. LLS 34‒37; cheek scale rows 4‒5; a red ocellus present on the opercular membrane when fresh; no spot at snout when fresh (or faint cluster of melanophores when preserved)............................................................. .. 3

3A. Scales present on dentary and angular surface of lower jaw; pelvic fin with 3‒4 yellow oblique yellow line when fresh.................................................................................................... C. stella

3B. Scales present on dentary surface of lower jaw only; pelvic fin without line or spot......................... C. barazeri

4A. LLS 35‒38 (rarely 38); cheek scale rows 4‒5; uppermost tip of the caudal fin reddish....................... C. formosa

4B. LLS 41‒44; cheek scale rows 6‒7; uppermost tip of the caudal fin not reddish..................................... 5

5A. Body rather pinkish-red; a dark reddish blotch at mid-body; two transverse series of white spots midlaterally; dentary region scaled................................................................................... C. hirundinacea

5B. Body rather orange-red; a series of transverse black blotches (usually 5) midlaterally on body; dentary region not scaled............................................................................................ C. pleurospilus