Oblong body and its depth 3 to 4 times in standard length; mouth terminal or only slightly inferior; a pair of small tapering barbets on chin; Sagitta with a tadpole-shaped impression, of which the "tail" is sharply curved at about a right angle and ending close to the ventral edge; Gillrakers on lower limb of first arch: 7 to 9, with several toothed plates below; Dorsal fin is divided into two parts as follows- 1) 9-10 spines a deep notch is followed 2) 1 spine and 23-26 soft rays Anal fin spines 2 (second spine is elongated and stout) and 7 soft rays caudal fin rhomboid in adults.Lateral-line scales extends to the tip of caudal fin. Swimbladder carrot-shaped, with 17-19 pairs of appendages; Body is black grey with silvery belly; dorsal fin spines are black and the margin of the second part of the fin is dusky