Description: upper profile of snout straight; mouth with somewhat oblique cleft; jaws equal in front, or lower slightly projecting; maxillary ending below anterior edge of eye; teeth in a single series, or a few inner teeth in upper jaw; 4 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw with few bicuspid teeth, the middle somewhat enlarged; 4-5 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins; pectoral fin ending above vent or in front of it; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 55985).

Coloration: body bright red (Ref. 52307) or silvery (Ref. 55985), with dark band along the back, another on lower lateral line, and an indefinite patch below upper lateral line (Ref. 55985). An opercular spot, and a faint bar below eye; a few light spots on upper part of caudal fin and on soft dorsal fin (Ref. 55985). Vertical fins with (broad) dark (black) edges (Ref. 52307, 55985). Outer parts of pelvic fins dusky; smaller fishes sometimes much darker in general colouring, with a clear edge to the dorsal fin (Ref. 55985). Iridiophores present on dorsal fin and most distal parts of caudal fin, but none on head or body (Ref. 52307).