This species in the 'highfin megalops group' is distinguished by the following set of characters: abdomen depth 8.6-11.1% TL; pre-vent length 45.3-46.5% TL, 1.9-2.0 times dorsal caudal margin; pre-second dorsal length 3.6-4.0 times pectoral-fin anterior margin, 2.4-2.6 times dorsal caudal margin; head width 1.4-1.6 times abdomen width; preoral length 2.8-3.2 times the horizontal prenarial length, 8.4-9.5% TL; head length 3.8-4.3 times its eye length;

mouth width 3.4-4.3 times the length of upper labial furrow; interorbital width 1.4-1.5 times the horizontal preorbital length; fifth gill slit height 1.9-2.1% TL; strongly bifurcated anterior nasal flap; first dorsal fin upright, upper posterior margin almost vertical, greatest concavity closer to free rear tip than fin apex; posterior margin of second dorsal fin deeply concave; second dorsal-fin spine with a broad base; pectoral fin of adult weakly falcate, anterior margin long, 14.6-16.4% TL; both dorsal and ventral surfaces are pale; dorsal fins pale with obvious dark

tips; first dorsal-fin spine and base of soft portion of dorsal fin both pale; caudal fin with broad white posterior margin; prominent dark, diagonal subterminal streak parallel to the upper posterior margin; flank denticles strongly tricuspid; monospondylous centra 47-49, precaudal

centra 94-97, total centra 123-127 (Ref. 58440).