Main Ref.	Veron, J.E.N., 2000
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis	Formation: phaceloid to plocoid, with few to numerous corallites. Corallites are less than 7 mm diameter. Septa: mostly in two cycles, with only the first reaching the columella; primary septa may be exsert. Poorly developed columellae. Mantles extend during the day and may form a continuous surface obscuring the underlying growth-form. Color: commonly dark red with obvious green oral discs, also pink, orange, brown or uniform dark grey with white margins to primary septa (Ref. 848).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Blastomussa merleti

Lateral Lines	Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
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
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No.	Dorsal
	Ventral
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral	Attributes
	spines
	soft-rays
Pelvics	Attributes
	Position
	spines
	soft-rays