Diagnosis: parietal fontanella absent in adults and porelinke in juveniles, disappearing with growth; snout long, comprised three times in head length; dorsal-fin origin distincly behind pelvic-fin insertions; head broad; adults large-sized; no sexual dimorphism affecting anal-fin shape in adult males; body depth less than three times in the standard length in adults; 8-12 teeth in outer premaxillary row; 4.5 scales above lateral line; 21-23 lateral line scales; 13-15 anal fin branched rays; 18-20 gill rakers on lower part of first branchial arch (Ref. 2880, 81279).

Description: supraorbital bone thick; even in largest specimen, snout projecting only slightly beyond lower jaw; dorsal-fin origin at about midpoint of space between pelvic-fin insertions and anal-fin origin; anal fin with 3 branched and 13-15 unbranched rays (Ref. 2880, 81279).

Coloration: uniformly brown back, silvery sides and white belly (Ref. 2880, 81279).