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Anterior nares directed forward, just medial to bases of maxillaries, completely 

 surrounded by short tubular valves. Posterior nares remote from anterior pair, 

 lateral to but not bordering edges of frontals, each surrounded anteriorly and 

 laterally by a continuous thin flap which overlaps at back. Prominent neuromast 

 pores on head and chin arranged as follows: three between and medial to each pair 

 of nares, two proximal to each other and behind anterior nare, the third near the 

 lateral margin of the frontal, slightly in front of the posterior nare; one pore above 

 the middle of the orbit; one pore irmnediately behind the eye; a pair on the inner 

 margins of the posterior portion of the fontanelle; one on each side of the 

 supraoccipital; one just behind the sphenotic; a series of 10-11 on each side of the 

 chin, extending from the symphysis of the lower jaw, along the surface of the 

 dentary, to a point above and behind the orbit. Gill membranes narrowly fused to 

 isthmus. Branchiostegals 10-12, moderately recessed beneath relatively thick skin. 



Dorsal fin relatively short in females and non-breeding males. Dorsal fin 

 spine stout, with a series of relatively short, retrorse serrae on outer two thirds or 

 more of posterior margin. Back with a very thick, rounded, fatty keel, gently rising 

 above dorsal contour of the body, beginning about where longest adpressed dorsal 

 rays reach, and extending to and continuous with top margin of adipose fin. Base of 

 adipose fin obliquely angled downward, the fin forming a short, posteriorly directed 

 flap. Caudal fin truncate or only slightly emarginate, obliquely slanted forward from 

 tip of upper to tip of lower lobe, due to the asymmetrical number of procurrent 

 elements; 8+10 principal rays, 18-23 (modally 20) lower procurrent, and 8-11 

 (modally 9) upper procurrent rays. Base of anal fin gently sloping upward from 

 front to back; fin relatively long, total rays numbering 38 (1), 39 (1), 40 (2), 41* (3), 

 42 (6), 43 (4), 44 (1), or 48 (1). Two or three fewer anal pterygiophores than anal 

 rays, ranging from 36 to 44, modally 40. Pectoral fin short, barely reaching to or 

 slightly beyond pelvic origin in small specimens, falling considerably short of pelvic 



