Moderately elongate, fusiform (body height > 1/3 SL); eye small; head low, snout large, conical, projects beyond slightly oblique mouth that ends under eye; teeth on jaws in broad bands, outer teeth on top jaw enlarged, spaced apart, slightly enlarged teeth mixed with small ones on lower jaw; chin without barbels; preoperculum smooth; 19-23 short gill rakers; dorsal fin X-XI, 21-24, deeply notched between 2 parts, 4th spine is the largest, soft dorsal with slightly convex border; anal fin with short base, concave rear border, 2nd spine moderate length (~ ½ length of 1st ray), 9-10 rays; pectoral reaches past pelvic tips; tail edge slightly concave, pointed tips; scales rough, relatively large, 57-62 in lateral series, 5-6 rows between lateral line and dorsal origin.
Blue grey above, darkest on top of head and nape, shading to silvery on belly and throat; may have dark streaks along scale rows; dorsal, tail, anal fins dark grey; pectoral fins and base dark grey, axil black; pelvics whitish; upper rear margin of operculum blackish.
