Color in life dark greenish or olive dorsally, paler on sides, whitish below; silvery luster over all; nape with a black spot; fins more or less dusky. The species may vary in color, scale counts and proportions. Circular gelatinous lid of eye high up, with posterior margin midway between tip of snout and posterior margin of operculum. 8 scales from nape to dorsal; 2-2.5 scales between origin of ventral and lateral line. Short, round axillary ventral scale much less than eye in length. Longitudinal branching lines on scales. Snout round.