Diagnosis: small, closely-packed teeth; relatively small maximum size; larger specimens often with bright greenish metallic iridescence on upper surface of the body, mature males can be more bluish-grey (Ref. 55949).

Description: small, streamlined fish with smaller mouth and teeth than most congenerics; operculum with relatively large surface area and squarish appearance; cheek relatively deep; eye large; teeth very small and closely packed; gill-rakers usually long, unbranched and closely-packed (Ref. 55949).

Coloration: body countershaded, dark grey dorsally; immature fish and mature fish of both sexes may have grey-white or orange-yellow ventral fins; there may be 3-6 yellow or pinkish egg spots on the anal fin; aquarium-kept specimens sometimes show faint narrow vertical bars (Ref. 55949).