Diagnosis: Body moderate, sometimes deep, its depth 25% of standard length or more; 13-18 pre-pelvic and 8-10 post-pelvic scutes, 1-2 scutes before pectoral fin origin, first pre-pectoral scute as long as, or smaller than, following scutes without ascending arms; lower jaw strongly projecting, with strong canine teeth at symphysis; pre-maxilla with 2-4 strong backward-pointing canine teeth on each side behind outer row of pre-maxillary teeth; lower gillrakers 16-19, shorter than corresponding gill filaments; anal fin with 18-21 rays; silver stripe along flank (Ref. 188, 54749, 81269, 81631). It resembles Odaxothrissa ansorgii, which has more gillrakers, 22-33 vs. 16-19; and Pellonula vorax, which lacks canine teeth in the upper jaw and has longer gillrakers, equal in length to gill filaments vs. shorter (Ref. 188, 54749).

Description: Body moderate, sometimes deep, depth 25% of standard length or more (Ref. 188, 2263). Caudal peduncle longer than deep (Ref. 2263). Snout longer than eye diameter (Ref. 2263). Lower jaw strongly projecting; pre-maxilla with 2-4 strong canine teeth on each side; maxillary extending to below anterior 1/3 of eye (Ref. 2263, 54749). First gill arch with 24-28 gillrakers; 16-19 gillrakers on the lower limb and 8-9 on the upper limb (Ref. 2849, 54749, 81269, 81631). Dorsal fin with 15-18 rays, its origin slightly before or behind base of pelvic fins; anal fin with 18-21 rays; pectoral fin with 12-15 rays; pelvic fin with 7-8 rays (Ref. 2849, 81269, 81631). Cycloid scales; 43-46 scales in a longitudinal series, 14 in transverse series (Ref. 2263, 3032, 54749). With 13-18 pre-pelvic and 8-10 post-pelvic scutes; pre-pectoral scutes present, 1-2 scutes in front of pectoral fin origin, first pre-pectoral scute as long as, or smaller than, following scutes without ascending arms (Ref. 188, 2849, 54749, 81269, 81631). Number of vertebrae 42-44; with 23-25 abdominal vertebrae and 20-21 caudal vertebrae (Ref. 54749, 81269, 81631).

Colouration: Alcohol-preserved specimens have the same colour as those of Odaxothrissa ansorgii: generally varying from light yellow-brown to grey yellow-brown; operculum, longitudinal stripe and ventral region silvery coloured or much lighter (Ref. 2849, 54749, 81269, 81631).