Body compressed and deep (depth contained 2.3 to 2.7 times in standard length); mouth small and terminal with thick fleshy lips; dorsal fin with 11 spines and 13 or 14 soft rays (XI, 13-14) ; pectoral fins shorter than head, not reaching origin of anal fin; lateral line with 45 to 48 scales; scale series above lateral line parallel to it; body ash gray with 4 or 5 irregular transverse bars that fade with age; fins blackish (Ref. 55763).