Body high, rhomboidal (height ~ 50% of SL), compressed; upper head profile steep, ~ straight; lower profile of head distinctively concave; mouth highly extensible, pointing downward when protruded; 14-16 lower gill rakers; lower border of preopercle serrated; bone under front of eye with serrated border; teeth inside throat all pointed; dorsal fin IX, 9-10, elevated at front, 2nd spine shorter than head, 21-29.4% of SL; anal fin III, 8, 2nd anal spine thick, long, a little shorter than 2nd dorsal spine; pectoral longer than head, reaches past line through anal fin origin, lower border concave; tail forked; scales large, conspicuous and finely rough, covering most of head and body; dorsal and anal fins fold into a high scaly sheath along their bases.
Body silver, darker on back; thin dark lines along scale rows very evident on upper ½ of body; fins dark, spiny dorsal with thin black margin; inside pectoral base dark.
Size: 25 cm.
Habitat: in shallow coastal areas and lagoons.
Depth: 0-30 m?
Southern Baja and the southern Gulf of California to Honduras.
