Description: upper profile of snout straight; mouth with somewhat oblique cleft; jaws equal in front, or lower slightly projecting; maxillary ending below anterior edge of eye; teeth in a single series, or a few inner teeth in upper jaw; 4 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw with few bicuspid teeth, the middle somewhat enlarged; 4-5 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins; pectoral fin ending above vent or in front of it; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 55985).

Coloration: silvery, with dark band along the back, another on lower lateral line, and an indefinite patch below upper lateral line; an opercular spot, and a faint bar below eye; a few light spots on upper part of caudal fin and on soft dorsal fin; vertical fins with dark edges; outer parts of pelvic fins dusky; smaller fishes sometimes much darker in general colouring, with a clear edge to the dorsal fin (Ref. 55985).