Species: Stellifer melanocheir, Black stardrum

Stellifer melanocheir Eigenmann, 1918

Black stardrum

Body oblong, compressed; head large, broad, skull cavernous, translucent, spongy to touch, wide between eyes;  snout blunt, projecting slightly beyond upper jaw; mouth large, opens almost at front, slight oblique; teeth in villiform bands, those in outer row of upper jaw enlarged; chin with 6 pores, central pair smaller, separated by a bony crest, no barbells; snout with 8 pores; margin of preopercle with 2 strong spines; gill rakers long and slender, 41-46; dorsal rays X + II-III, 22-26, deep notch between spiny and soft parts of dorsal fin; anal fin with short base II, 8-9, 2nd  spine strong, as long as 1st  ray; pectorals long, pointed, reach past anal origin; pelvic fins with a short filament; tail margin rounded; scales rough on body and nape, smooth on breast, head and fins; soft dorsal and anal fins covered with smooth scales; lateral line pores 45-46.