This species is characterized by having the following features: body depth 1.5-1.8 in SL; forked caudal fin; colour of body blue-green dorsally, shading to silvery white ventrally; five broad bluish black bars the first just behind the head, the narrow fifth on caudal peduncle, the third to fifth extending into the dorsal fin; dorsal part of body between the first and third dark bars often yellow (yellowish hue on anterodorsal part of the body apparent especially during courtship and nesting); caudal fin without dark bands (Ref. 11441, 90102).