Body oblong and compressed; dorsal profile more convex than ventral profile; snout bluntly rounded. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 8 spines, the second with 1 spine and 26 to 34 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines followed by 1 spine and 21 to 26 soft rays; lobe of second dorsal fin falcate, especially in small adults, but usually shorter than head length. Lateral line anteriorly with a very slight arch, with junction of curved and straight parts below second dorsal fin between 15th to 20th soft rays; chord of curved part of lateral line longer than straight part of lateral line, contained 0.6 to 0.85 times in straight part; straight part of lateral line with 10 to 30 scales followed by 21 to 37 small scutes.