Body robust, compressed, and not very deep (depth contained 2.7 to 3.3 times in standard length); mouth small and terminal, its posterior end located at the same level as the anterior rim of the eye; first gill arch with 17 to 20 gill rakers; dorsal fin notched, with 12 spines ad 14 to 15 soft rays (XII, 14-15); second anal spine shorter than third; body silvery bronzed; scales dark edged, forming longitudinal lines along each series of scales; anterior end of lateral line with an indistinct spot (Ref. 55763).