Diagnosis: body depth -36.147% standard length; teeth in jaws with stout shafts in rivers, usually more slender in lakes, in 4-5 series at 100-200mm standard length and (4)5-7 above this size, outer bicuspid; pharyngeal teeth variable, in lakes usually covering a shorter dentigerous area; width of pharyngeal bone from a little less to a little more than its length; caudal peduncle relatively long and slender, its length usually 12.0-14.5% standard length, 0.8-1.0 of its depth; pectoral fin length usually over 37% (35-45%) standard length; pigment of the body usually forms a reticulum or spots based on the scales, but mature males may be uniformly dark (blue-black); stripes of caudal fin often anastomosing in adult to form a reticulum in center of fin (Ref. 2). Possesion of fixed mtDNA cleavage phenotypes HhaI-B and MboI-D (Ref. 27554).

Description: jaws equal; mouth does not reach vertical from anterior border of eye; outer teeth rather broad, irregularly bicuspid, inner cusp the larger; inner teeth tricuspid, in 3-4 rows; 3 rows of scales on cheek; gill-rakers short; scales cycloid; pectoral fin pointed; pelvic, dorsal and anal fins blunt; caudal well scaled (Ref. 58535).

Coloration: about 9 narrow dark cross-bars on sides; soft dorsal and caudal fin sharply barred, anal fin faintly barred; dark blotch at angle of operculum (Ref. 58535).