Hatai'S Ponyfish

Mouth protruding forward, not downward; teeth small, slender, pointed, uniserial on jaws; membrane between jaws and cheeks densely pigmented, with a black line between anteroventral margin of eye and the lower articulation when mouth closed; lateral line incomplete, ending below base of 11th to 15th dorsal fin soft ray; body rather deep, 40-44% SL; posterior limb of maxilla long, 27-30% HL; anteroventral profile of lower jaw slightly concave; belly almost wholly scaled; large blotch below base of dorsal fin spine (Ref. 49864).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 14; Vertebrae: 24