Diagnosis: body elongate; upper and lower jaws extremely long, forming a stout beak armed with very sharp teeth; gill rakers absent (Ref. 57228, 90102). Nostrils in depression before eyes (nasal pit); pelvic fins abdominal; 21-23 dorsal-fin rays; anal fin long, 5.5-8.0 times in body length; small, black lateral keel on either sides of caudal peduncle; caudal fin deeply forked (Ref. 57228).

Description: relatively stout, cylindrical body and a shorter head as compared to other needle fishes. Jaw teeth point anteriorly in juveniles (to 40 cm BL) but are straight at all sizes in other species of Tylosurus (Ref. 9682). Anterior rays of dorsal and anal fins forming relatively high lobes that are comprised from 5.4-10.6 and from 5.5-8.0 times, respectively, in body length (Ref. 57228, 90102). Dorsal fin origin about equal with or slightly anterior to origin of anal fin (Ref. 90102). Lower lobe of caudal fin longer than upper (Ref. 57228). 240-290 (Ref. 57228) or 270-340 (Ref. 90102) predorsal scales. Both left and right gonads present, but right one longer than left (Ref. 57228).

Coloration: back-bluish green, belly silvery; dark blue band along sides; scales and bones green (Ref. 57228). In young individuals (to 20 cm BL), dorsal fin has elevated black posterior lobe which disappears in adults (Ref. 9682, 57228).