Head large; the eyes moderately large; the snout moderately long and pointed, its anterolateral margin completely supported by bone. Head ridges strong, supraoccipital scute developed, several similar single-keeled scutes follow on the nape; the underside of the head naked, except for a small patch below the preopercle angle. Body scales covered with dagger-like spinules in 3 to 5 slightly divergent rows. Light organ small, fossa narrow, extending forward immediately before the anus. Overall brownish to swarthy, silvery ventrally; the fins dusky to blackish; the mouth and gill cavities blackish.