Body moderately elongate, somewhat compressed, oval, both profiles convex; back high; head low, broad, conical; eye large; snout ~ eye; mouth ~ horizontal, under projecting snout; chin with 1 short, thick rigid barbel with a pore at its tip, and 2 pairs of pores beside its base; teeth in bands on each jaw, outer row on top jaw larger; 17-22 gill rakers; preopercle finely serrated; dorsal fin with a deep notch, X + I, 21-23, spines slender, second dorsal long base; anal small, II, 6-7 rays, 2nd spine thick, almost as long as 1st ray; pectorals long, pointed, longer than pelvics, 17-19 rays; tail S shaped or with angular point; scales rough on head and body, smooth on fins; bases of soft dorsal and anal fins with scaly sheath; lateral line scales 45-49.
Body uniform silver grey, fins dusky; inside mouth and gill chamber black.
