Diagnosis: 102-119 scales in lateral line; no chevrons on the flanks or, if present, not so well marked as in Sphyraena afra (Ref. 57401).

Description: body elongate, slightly compressed; head large, with a long and pointed snout; interorbital space convex; hind edge of opercular bone with 2 spines; mouth large, lower jaw prominent without any skin appendage; hind end of premaxillary reaching level of anterior rim of eye in adults; teeth strong, pointed, of irregular size and turned backwards on both jaws; teeth on roof of mouth; 1st dorsal fin begins behind insertion level of ventral fin; last rays of soft dorsal and anal fins elongated, stretching over the last rays when folded back; hind end of pectoral fin stands behind insertion level of ventral fin; caudal fin forked; scales small, 102-119 in lateral line (Ref. 57401).

Coloration: back and upper part of flanks greyish or olive greenish, lower part of flanks and belly silver white; in live fish, a narrow irregular and yellow stripe stretches along middle of flank; edge of ventral and anal fins blackish; ends of median caudal rays blackish; sides of adults with dark spots and vertical bars which, forward, curve to form chevrons, but not so obvious as in Sphyraena afra (Ref. 57401).