Diagnosis: body oblong and compressed, not very deep; snout short and pointed, distinctly longer than eye diameter; 2 anterior pores on chin, followed by a median pit bearing openings of another pair of pores; a deep groove and a pore above maxilla, below the preorbital bone; second anal fin spine longer and stouter than third; caudal fin slightly forked; scales slightly ctenoid; 4-5 scale rows between lateral line and middle of spinous dorsal-fin base; swim bladder simple, without anterior horns (Ref. 57395).

Coloration: silvery, with round, dark brown and irregularly scattered spots following scale rows on back and sides; dorsal and caudal fins grey; a dark spot at angle of opercle (Ref. 57395).