Mastacembelus taiaensis (Travers 1992)

Diagnosis: 1st dorsal spine situated before, above or just posterior to posterior edge of pectoral fin; as a result distance from posterior edge of pectoral fin to anterior origin of 1st dorsal spine relatively short, (-6.6) to 6.0% HL (m=0.8); 1 strong pre-orbital spine; 3-4 pre-opercular spines; origin of 1st dorsal spine situated near, before or posterior to posterior edge of pectoral fin; post-anal length 53.1-57.9% SL (m=55.8), increasing with size, longer than preanal length, 40.9-46.7% SL (m=43.4), decreasing with size; distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible dorsal spine, between 44.3-51.5% SL (m=48.5), comparable to distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible anal spine, 44.6-51.5% SL (m=48.0), both decreasing with size; 7-10 caudal fin rays; 5-6 predorsal vertebrae; 32-34 abdominal vertebrae; 0 in-between vertebrae; 64-74 caudal vertebrae (Ref. 57415).Coloration: uniformly light brown overall background colour; dark brown band originating at base of rostral appendage, passing through eye, above pectoral fin and continuing along lateral side of body and tail; lateral dark brown band with a battlement-like upper edge generally well delimited and well contrasted from lighter brown upper sides; lower edge of dark brown band not well delimited; lower sides, eventually, with a few light brown spots; ventral surface of head, belly and abdomen uniformly light brown; dorsal, caudal and anal fins white, transparent of overall background colour with dark brown irregular markings; dorsal and anal fin base generally with a series of large dark brown spots; pectoral fins white of overall background colour with a few dark brown spots; unpaired fins become darker with increasing standard length/ size of specimens; minor size-related colour pattern changes, notably unpaired fins darkening with size due to an increase in number of dark brown spots; nevertheless, outermost border of unpaired fins remains white (Ref. 57415).

Dorsal spines (total): 28 - 30; Dorsal soft rays (total): 116 - 131; Analsoft rays: 115 - 127; Vertebrae: 98 - 107

Maximum reported TL was 304mm (Ref. 57415).

fisheries: