Elongate but moderately deep, compressed; lower gill rakers 18-20; mouth pointing obliquely up, lower jaw strongly projecting; upper jaw with of three toothed bones; dorsal fin behind mid-body, 13; no pelvic fins; anal fin base long, 45-55 rays, origin only a little before dorsal origin; sharp keel of 27-28 scutes (hard spiny scales) along entire belly.
Olive on back, silvery white below; fins yellowish; juvenile with silver mid-lateral stripe.
