This species is distinguished by the following characters: postmaxillary process single; A III,12 (rarely 13); lateral line scales 57-65 (usually around 61); scale rows on spinous part of dorsal fin horizontal; supratemporal bands of scales often interrupted at dorsal midline by a scaleless zone, always a V-shaped scaleless zone anteriorly at midline intruding between the supratemporal band of scales; body colour with upper body bluish and the lower white to pale bluish; a single yellow or golden stripe directly above lateral line except on caudal peduncle where it is about 1 scale above lateral line, the yellow stripe 2 or 3 scales wide, bordered directly above and below by a white or light blue stripe which is about 1 scale wide, caudal-fin lobes with a black median streak (Ref. 68703).

Description: Body moderately deep, fusiform, elongate, and moderately compressed. Ratio of eye diameter to head length usually around 3.4-4.2; D X,15 (rarely 14 or 16); pectoral fins with 20 to 22 (rarely 19); scale rows above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 7-10 (most frequently 9); scale rows below lateral line to origin of anal fin usually 15-18; predorsal scales 20-26; dorsal and anal fins scaled; greatest body depth 2.2-3.1 in SL, head length 2.7-3.4 in SL (Ref. 68703, 90102).