This species is a member of the Caranx hippos complex, and is distinguished by the following characters: segmented dorsal-fin rays 21-23 (exceptionally 24); segmented anal-fin rays 17-19, usually 18; posttemporal bones are hyperossified in specimens larger than 20 cm FL; cleithrum, first pterygiophore of dorsal and anal fins, and neural spines of vertebrae are relatively slender and never hyperossified; in specimens >20 cm FL, heights of longest dorsal-and anal-fin rays are both 0.7-1.3 in head length; in adults, anal-fin lobe white anteriorly and remainder of fin is gray to brown (Ref. 58464).

Description: ground colour greenish to bluish, black-bluish dorsally, white-silvery to yellowish or golden ventrally; opercle with a distinct black spot; pectoral fin with a characteristic black blotch in adults; distal part of soft dorsal fin lobe dark to pale; adults with anal fin lobe mostly white (vs anal fin lobe entirely yellow in C. hippos); juveniles with 5 dark bars on body (Ref. 81654).