Generally yellow with a bronze to silvery sheen, shading to silvery white on belly and underside of the head. A large black blotch mainly above the lateral line below the anterior dorsal-fin rays. Dorsal profile of head steeply sloped. Preorbital width equal to eye diameter or larger. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Centre of each scale often with a reddish-brown spot, giving an overall appearance of series of horizontal lines on side of body.