Elongate, slender body; snout long, length before mouth ~ same as mouth width; eyes horizontal ovals, with ventral nictitating membranes; mouth rounded; front nasal flaps very small; teeth small, equal on both jaws, broadly triangular, large serrations on one side; 5 gill slits, last 2 over pectoral fin base; 2 large dorsal fins, second distinctly smaller than first; first dorsal origin behind pectoral; anal fin same size as and second dorsal, its origin a little behind that of second dorsal; tail strongly asymmetrical, upper lobe long, upper lobe tip beyond notch = half lobe length, lower lobe very well developed.
Dark grey to grey-brown above, white below; underside of snout tip often translucent; pectorals with pale rear borders; sometimes scattered pale spots in flank.
Size: 195 cm.
Habitat: coastal, usually near bottom; migratory.
Depth: 0-470 m.
Worldwide in temperate waters; British Colombia to Baja, the Revillagigedos; northern Peru Chile.
