Main Ref.	Child, C.A., 1998
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	Trunk: suture lines complete, partial or lacking. 2 or more dorsomedian tubercles on trunk with or without similar tubercles on abdomen. Lateral processes: broad, more or less contiguous, with distal tubercles which differs in size and number. Proboscis: a slender ovoid as long as trunk. Chelifores: 2-segmented, scape longer than usual, with short dorsodistal tubercles or without. Chelae: tiny nubs, atrophied in adults. Palps: 8 segmented. Ovigers: 10 segmented, smaller in females, armed with 1-2 denticulate spines per distal 3 segments. Legs: slender, with or without low to tall tubercles, mostly dorsal if present. Male femur with 1 dorsodistal cement gland pore. Propodus: well curved, with 3-4 larger heel spines, 7-8 smaller sole spines, robust claw and stout auxiliaries of varying lengths (Ref. 9).
Ease of Identification	likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Achelia assimilis

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