Diagnosis: body depth 3.5-6.2 times in SL, head length 4.5-6.2 times (Ref. 2915, 4903, 81274). Head length 1.6-2.3 times greater than its width (Ref. 2915, 81274) and 6-13.5 times greater than eye diameter (Ref. 81274). Dorsal head profile strongly curved (Ref. 4903), rounded, snout short, thick and blunt (Ref. 81274). Eye small, diameter 1/6 (in young fishes) to 1/9 of head length in adults; mouth small and terminal, teeth notched, 3-5 in upper and 4-6 in lower jaw (Ref. 4903). Anal fin with 52-71 rays, its origin about equidistant from snout tip and caudal-fin base (Ref. 81274). Dorsal fin very short (Ref. 28714, 81274), one fifth or less of the anal fin length (Ref. 4903, 28714), with 12-16 rays (Ref. 4903, 81274) of which the first 2-3 unbranched (Ref. 4903). Anal-fin base 4-7.7 times longer than dorsal-fin base; pectoral fins 1.1- 1.7 times in head length; pelvic fins about half as long as the pectorals (Ref. 2915, 81274). 90-120 lateral line scales (Ref. 4903, 81274) and 16-20 (exceptionally 22) around caudal peduncle (Ref. 81274). Depth of caudal peduncle 1.5-3.6 times in its length (Ref. 2915, 81274).

Coloration: ground color silvery, back darker, olivaceous, brownish or yellowish, with scattered black dots in adults; belly greyish; neck greyish or white; fins greyish (Ref. 81274).