Body oblong, compressed and not very deep (depth contained 2.5 to 2.9 times in standard length); mouth large and terminal, its posterior end located at the same level as the posterior edge of the pupil; first gill arch with 19 to 25 gill rakers; dorsal fin notched, with 11 to 12 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays (XI-XII, 15-17); second anal spine slightly longer and stronger than third; scale series above lateral line oblique; body dark brown or silver gray; each scale bearing a pearly gray spot, the spots appearing to form lines following the scale series; lower part of preopercle with a black spot; caudal peduncle with a large dark spot; fins grayish (Ref. 55763). Scales below lateral line oblique; anal fin more heavily scaled than other species; silvery gray or brown on back, silvery on sides, with dark lines following oblique scale rows; a large black spot at caudal base (Ref. 13442).