| Main Ref. | Murdy, E.O. and J.E. Randall, 2002 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | eel-like |
| Cross section | compressed |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | other (see remarks) |
| Type of mouth/snout | other (see remarks) |
| Position of mouth | |
| Diagnosis |
Body long and slender. Second dorsal and anal fins edged in black; caudal fin almost entirely black. Caudal vertebrae 35. Mouth large and almost vertical; tongue thick; isthmus narrow. Five pairs of short, thin barbels on ventral surface of head. Eyes rudimentary but distinct; covered by skin. Spinous dorsal-fin pterygiophore formula 3-12210; Y-shaped second anal fin pterygiophore present (Ref. 45318). |
| Ease of Identification |
| 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 | 10 - 10 |
| total | 45 - 45 |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 6 - 6 |
| Soft-rays total | 72 - 72 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 65 - 65 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 20 - 21 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |