Main Ref.	Burghardt, G. and L. Burghardt, 2006
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	Girdle: Medium wide which is sandy and profusely covered with stiff bristles. Mucro: Highly posterior; depressed. Central areas: Longitudinally ribbed with sharp nodulose ribs transversed with subtle wide obsolete ribs forming a basket weave. Lateral areas: Heavily beaded rib. Inside area: Covered with oval shaped granulations. Color of the valves: Grays to black; rarely, a specimen with blue or orange valves may be found. Color of the girdle: Cream with brownish red bristles (Ref. 296).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Mopalia muscosa

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