Peritoneum is silver in appearance speckled with brown. Swim bladder not usually well developed in adults. Color of the back varies from olive-green to brown, shading to a lighter silvery white on the abdomen, dark color often not reaching ventrally from the lateral line. Dark lateral line from gill operculum to caudal base with a dark stripe above the eye often observed. Caudal peduncle is twice as long as is deep, with adult body lengths ranging from 8-13 cm in length.
Eyes are large and located forward of center of head.
Mouth is terminal and moderately large in size and slightly oblique. Gill rakers are short and stubby with 6-9 on the first arch. Caudal fin is relatively long and deeply forked with the tips being pointed. The abdomen near the anal fin is somewhat keeled. Pelvic fins are abdominally placed, low, small, with rounded tips and 8 or 9 rays.