Diagnosed from its congeners by having the following characters: very thin, not overlapping scales; entire body covered by scales, often not overlapping, especially in pre-pelvic area; narrow dark midlateral stripe from opercle to caudal base, separated from dark area on back by an unpigmentd stripe; dorsal fin with 7-8½ branched rays; anal fin with 8½ branched rays; snout stout, markedly rounded, mouth subterminal; skin not thickened, scales distinct; lateral line usually almost complete, if interrupted, only narrowly in a few places, with 51-70 total scales (Ref. 59043).