This species is distinguished by the following characters: pelvic rays usually 12-14 (elsewhere 11-13); total gill-rakers first arch (outer/inner) 17-22/23-28, second arch 22-28/22-26; no chin barbel; snout length 22-31% HL; orbit diameter 29-40% HL; suborbital width 10-14%HL, interorbital width 24-29%HL; most of the orbit, upper surface of snout, sides of head and trunk silvery or pale, ventral aspects of heed and trunk black; a prominent midlateral stripe of silvery (when fresh) or brownish (preserved) pigment running along trunk and tail (Ref. 97189). Additional distinguishing characteristics: pectoral fin rays 13-16; projecting snout, 20-26% HL; infraorbital width 11-16% HL; moderately long preopercular supporter, with obtuse angle at rear margin, 4-9% HL; ventral striae reaching to ½ distance from pelvic fin bases to periproct; otolith has moderately high predorsal lobe, with colliculi separated, closely placed across collum with a tendency to joining in large individuals, terminating at some distance from anterior and posterior rims of otolith; otolith length to height (OL:OH), 1.1-1.2; total colliculum length to pseudocolliculum length (TCL:PCL), 1.8-2.4 (Ref. 98298).