Suborbital spine absent. Preopercle with 3 transverse scale rows. Pectoral fins short, not reaching to anus. Pelvic fins moderately long, reaching to or just beyond anus. Upper lobe of caudal fin slightly longer than lower lobe. A line drawn up from the posterior edge of suborbital reaching the dorsal profile behind origin of dorsal fin. Axillary scale present. Color: Upper part of body pale silvery-rose, silvery below. Can be distinguished from N. balinensis by its shallower suborbital depth (4.1 to 6.7 in eye) and shorter pectoral fin.