This species is distinguished by the following characters: Dorsal rays XIII,13-14, usually 14; anal rays II,15-16; pectoral rays 18-19, usually 19; spiniform caudal rays 2-3, usually 3; tubed lateral-line scales 14-16; gill rakers 6-8 + 19-22 (usually 6-7 + 19-21; total 26-29); body depth 1.57-1.77 in SL. Color when fresh is pale lavender-tinged gray dorsally, paler ventrally; 3 or 4 rows of scales dorsally from nape to upper caudal peduncle with gold edges; small scales on basal sheath of dorsal fin almost entirely gold; median fin membranes lavender gray or translucent blue, suffused with gold color; iris yellow (Ref. 59379).