This species is distinguished by the following characters: dorsal and anal fin bases of adults are covered with scales; first gill arch rakers total 29-39, second gill arch rakers total 21-28; pelvic to caudal extension falls anterior to opercle and posterior to upper jaw; for continental population, pelvic to caudal distance usually 0.44-0.47 to SL; preorbital length to orbital diameter usually greater than 0.70 (in 81% of 119 specimens examined) (Ref. 42105).