Distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: black-stripe around snout and along side to caudal-fin base, followed by a small black spot; black stripe along side connects a series of crescents, on at the posterior edge of each lateral-line scale; lateral line usually complete; body slender, fairly compressed with notably arched nape; dorsal-fin origin over to slightly behind pelvic-fin origin; small mouth, nearly terminal; predorsal scales 10-14, usually 11-13; gill rakers 8-11, rarely 7; peritoneum black (Ref. 58354).