Snout rounded but not swollen or projecting; mouth large, oblique; upper jaw extending backward below posterior half of eye; no barbel on chin; teeth in narrow bands, well differentiated into large and small in both jaws, but none canine-like; gill rakers slender, about half length of gill filaments at angle of arch, 9 to 15 on lower limb. Second anal spine moderately long, 24 to 42 % of head length. Scales on head cycloid (smooth). Swim bladder hammer-shaped, the first pair of arborescent appendages entering head beyond transverse septum and sending a palmate branch to the front of pectoral arch. Sagitta (large earstone) with a tadpole-shaped impression, the head of which has its long axis lying obliquely to that of sagitta and the tail expanded and deepened as a hallow cone connected with the head by narrow groove.