This small slender species is distinguished by the following set of characters: adults with dorsal- and anal-fin bases covered with scales; pectoral-fin rays 9-10; total gill rakers on first arch 26-32; body slender with ratio of body depth at pectoral-fin origin to standard length usually less than 0.12 (<0.12 in 95% of 79 specimens examined); ratio of body depth at pelvic fin to standard length usually less than 0.12 (<0.12 in 89% of 79 specimens examined) (ref. 86266).