Malapterurus occidentalis Norris 2002

Diagnosis: tooth patches narrow; vertically based pectoral fin positioned near body mid-depth; 7-8 branched caudal-fin rays; eye relatively large; interorbital space relatively narrow; 8-9 pectoral-fin rays; 36-38 vertebrae; young tan or brown; caudal saddle and bar pattern present in juveniles but poorly developed in adults; flank and dorsum marked with small spots but no large blotches; caudal fin not heavily marked with spots or blotches (Ref. 44050).Description: body and head cylindrical; 15-17 abdominal vertebrae; 21 caudal vertebrae; 19 caudal-fin rays (arrangement: ii-7-8-ii) (Ref. 44050, 57130).Coloration: head and body bicolored in shades of tan or grey; flank and dorsum marked with scattered small spots, which generally do not continue onto rayed fins; adipose fin pigmented as the dorsum; pectoral and pelvic fins may be dusky in adults; anal fin usually darkly pigmented with a pale distal margin; caudal fin with pale basal crescent in younger specimens; large adults may show a hint of a caudal bar and pale interspace; juveniles show the caudal saddle and bar pattern: caudal bar dark, saddle well defined but faint; caudal fin darkly pigmented (little darker than flank base color) with pale distal margin and broad pale basal crescent (Ref. 44050).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): - 0; Anal spines: 0; Analsoft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 36 - 38

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