Description: Body superficially naked, with minute and embedded scales. Body silvery with light metallic bluish tinge dorsally; a small diffuse dark spot on opercle (Ref. 26938); juveniles with five chevron -shaped bars (Ref. 90102). Scales minute and embedded; scutes 12-30 (Ref. 90102). Weakly developed scutes, appearing naked. Only fish in the family that does not have dorsal fin spines throughout life (Ref. 26938). Spines of first dorsal fin embedded and not apparent at fork length greater than about 17cm; spines of first anal fin embedded with growth (Ref. 90102). Anterior 4-5 dorsal and anal soft rays of juveniles extremely long and filamentous (Ref. 48635, Ref. 90102). Villiform teeth disappearing with growth. Body very deep in juveniles about 1.5 in FL, becoming more elongate with growth (Ref. 90102).