Open Access PDF - Sven Kullander

eaching halfway to middle of anal fin base. Pelvic
fin pointed, first ray longest, reaching halfway
to anal fin origin.
Dorsal fin naked in all specimens to 152 mm
SL, in larger specimens sparsely scaled on proximal
| of soft portion, with single row of scales
along anterior and posterior margin of rays. Anal
fin densely scaled anteriorly in adults, on proximal
half or less in specimens up to 152 mm SL.
Caudal fin densely scaled, in adults scales covering
almost all of fin except posterior margin and
middle interradial membrane. Pelvic fin naked
in young, progressively densely scaled on both
sides along anterior margin. Pectoral fin scaled
basally in specimens over 200 mm SL.
Colouration in preservative. Smallest specimens,
about 60-80 mm SL (Fig. 37) with dark brown to
blackish lateral band from cleithrum to caudal fin
base. White, partly contiguous spots bordering
lateral band dorsally and ventrally; additional
one or two rows of indistinct light spots on dorsum
dorsal to lateral line. Short, narrow, dark
brown vertical bars 1-3 (in one specimen indicated
bar 4) from about lateral line, fading on
abdominal side; expanded into oval or round
blotch where crossing lateral band. Dark brown
blotch immediately posterior to orbit and dark
brown horizontal stripe dorsally on opercle.
Dorsal fin dusky, both spinous and soft portion
with large white or hyaline spots. Anal fin whitish
anteriorly, colourless posteriorly. Black caudal
blotch, small, rounded, contiguous with lateral
band, and extended by blackish stripe along † of
middle of caudal fin; blotch midbasal in 64.2 mm
SL specimen, slightly superior in remainder. Rest
of caudal fin grey with large white spots on dorsal
half. Pelvic fin whitish.
In specimens about 90 mm SL and larger (Figs.
38-39) lateral band much less distinct than vertical
bars/blotches and gradually transformed to
narrow stripe. Dorsum, nape and snout brown
with yellow spots on top of snout, nape and in
two rows on dorsum close to dorsal fin. Side of
head light brownish, ventrally yellowish, large
yellow spots in brownish area. A dark brown spot
ventrally on opercle. Dark horizontal stripe from
snout to orbit, from orbit horizontally across
opercle, brownish and distinct. Stripe continued,
indistinct, brownish, along middle of side, immediately
above level of lower lateral line tube
row, lighter anteriorly, to caudal fin base. Stripe
crossed by three short vertical bars confined to
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 17, No. 4
337
middle third of side, containing an approximately
round dark brown blotch at intersection.
Large light spots in a row dorsally and ventrally
along horizontal band; an irregular row of large
light spots on dorsal side, another along abdominal
side. Dorsal fin brown, spinous portion
with two, soft portion with three rows of large
hyaline spots. Anal fin hyaline, pelvic fin smoky
on both sides.
Large adult male, 330 mm SL (Fig. 40) with
dark brown back, nape and snout dorsally,
lighter brown side, chest yellowish white, abdomen
dirty white, ventral aspect of caudal peduncle
duskied. Side of head brown. Lower jaw grey,
chest and throat dusky on white ground (unique
for this specimen). Row of irregularly arranged
black spot in horizontal succession from orbit to
posterior margin of opercle, scattered black spots
on opercle. Extrascapular series marked by a black
oblique stripe. Spinous dorsal fin brown, soft
portion brown with seven cross-rows of lighter
spots and grey distal margin. Anal fin brown,
darker distally. Caudal fin brown with about 10
vertical rows of lighter spots on dorsal lobe. Pelvic
fin dark brown on posterior side, grey on
anterior side. Pectoral fin greyish.
Indistinct dark vertical bars (bars 2-3) containing
distinct irregular black blotches at level slightly
above upper lateral line. Anteriorly on side, above
pectoral fin, a large black blotch. Side close to
major black blotches partially, especially anterior
blotch, slightly lighter than rest of side. Caudad
from cleithrum an irregular row of irregularly
shaped black spots connecting major black blotches,
continued beyond posterior blotch as gradually
narrower band of blotches to about middle
of caudal peduncle. Numerous irregularly arranged
and irregularly shaped black blotches on lower
side associated with bars 2 and 3, on pectoral fin
base and under adpressed pect oral fin. Caudal
blotch slightly elongate, margined by narrow
silvery circle; on both sides of fin also minute
dark spot dorsally on ventral lobe, margined by
light spots. Other large males similarly dark with
dark brown to black spinous dorsal fin and black
spots on anterior abdominal side. Lower jaw,
throat and branchiostegal membrane whitish or
yellowish without blackish pigmentation.
Breeding female, 207 mm SL (Fig. 41) similar
to male, but anterior two blotches brown, posterior
blotch black and most prominent. Five series
of light spots in dorsal fin. Only some indistinct
brownish markings on abdominal side. No light