Appearance
Aplodactylus species are characterised by a relatively long, deep and compressed body ending in a small, blunt head. They have a small mouth, which is placed just below the short snout, with a thick upper lip. They have a long dorsal fin with a deep incision between the spiny and soft rayed portions. The anal fin is short based and triangular in shape while the pectoral fins are large and have a rounded shape, and their lower fin rays are not joined by membranes and are robust. The pelvic fins are located quite far to the rear of the base of the pectoral fins. They have small scales which are embedded in their skin and which extend onto the cheeks, as well as forming a scaly sheath at the base of the dorsal fin. The dorsal fins have 14-23 spines and 16-21 soft rays while the anal fin has 6-8 soft rays.
