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.
Pectoral fins are larger than pelvic fins, located above the ventral surface and rounded tips.
Scales are cycloid, small and 52-67 in a lateral series. The lateral line is complete and this species has 38-43 vertebrae. Nuptial tubercles on males only, located on head and upper surfaces of paired fins. The Dorsal surface of the species can be steely-blue, brown , black or olive in color. Below this unpigmented band is a dark band extending from the snout to the caudal peduncle.