Morphology Data of Decapterus macarellus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 1999
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section oval
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished by the following characters: oral valve (membrane) at symphysis of upper jaw conspicuously white in adults; posterior end of upper jaw straight above, moderately rounded and noticeably slanted anteroventrally; both jaws without teeth; shoulder girdle (cleithrum) margin with 2 small papillae, the lower papilla larger; terminal dorsal- and anal-fin rays each consisting of a widely detached finlet; pectoral fins short (58 to 72% of head length), tip of appressed fins falling considerably short of a vertical line from second dorsal-fin origin; lateral line scales, curved 58-75 and without scutes, straight 18-39 with 24-40 scutes, the total scales and scutes in lateral line (excluding scales on caudal fin) 110 to 138; interorbital scales usually extending to above front margin of the pupil. Colour in life bluish green and slivery below; small black blotch on margin of opercle near upper edge; caudal fin yellow-green and dorsal fin lobe sometimes dark distally; anal and pelvic fins pale to whitish (Ref. 9894, 11228).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Decapterus macarellus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 110 - 138
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 34 - 41
on upper limb 10 - 13
total 45 - 54
Vertebrae
preanal 10 - 10
total 24 - 24

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 2
Finlets No. Dorsal   1 - 1
Ventral  1 - 1
Spines total 9 - 9
Soft-rays total 31 - 37
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 2
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 27 - 31

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   22 - 24
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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