Morphology data of Natator depressa
Identification keys
Main Ref. Márquez, M.R., 1990
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 Adult: body flat, and carapace smooth, nearly elliptical with upturned margins. In subadults: carapace rim indented from middle to the back. Head: medium-sized, subtriangular, flat on top. Snout: longer and nearly equal to orbit. Scutes: ventrally consists of 6 pairs of main scutes, one intergular scute, a pair of postanal scutes and 4 poreless inframarginal scutes in each bridge with only one axillary scale in each bridge. Single visible claw in each flipper. Color: adults dorsally dull olive-grey with pale brownish yellow tones marginally; neck and head pale tone. Plastron ventrally are creamy white. Young individuals: brightly colored. Hatchlings: carapace scutes form a dark grey reticulate pattern; each scute are pale olive green; carapace rim and flippers are cream-colored band. Ventrally cream-white, except central part of each flipper which is bluish-grey diffuse spot.
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Natator depressa

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   
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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