Diagnosis: Relatively shallow body with flat dorsal profile; relatively large, upwardly-pointing mouth with strongly protruding lower jaw; large number of gill-rakers (Ref. 55949).

Description: Moderately elongated with fairly large teeth and predatory facies; eyes not particulary large; snout narrow and fairly concave in profile, with a prominent premaxillary pedicel; mental process moderate to prominent (Ref. 55949). Dorsal fin with 14-15 spines and 11-13 rays, spines slender, last 1/3 length of head; anal fin with 3 spines and 10-11 rays, third spine stronger and shorter than last dorsal; pectoral fin length 66-75% of head length, not reaching anal fin; caudal fin emarginate (Ref. 127501).

Colouration: Females and non-breeding males with silvery countershaded body, grey dorsally; snout dark; body with an overall silver sheen; fins generally grey, though pelvic fins may be white; males in breeding dress develop a darker head and dorsum, black eyes, snout and fins; anal fin with 1-2 large yellow eggspots (Ref. 55949).