Body very deep, short and compressed; lower branch of first gill arch with 14 to 17 gill rakers; dorsal fin with 8 spines followed by another spine and 17 to 18 soft rays (VII1, 17-18); anterior lobes of second dorsal and anal fins elongated in adults; anterior dorsal spines greatly prolonged in juveniles; body scaleless; lateral line scutes very weak and poorly differentiated; body silvery with metallic blue green highlights; juveniles yellowish, with 4 or 5 interrupted, dark, transverse bars (Ref. 55763).