This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 48-49; A 23-24; pectoral rays 15-16 (usually 15); lateral-line scales 106-112; absence of small scales dorsally on opercle; gill rakers 5-6 + 22-25; vertebrae 57-59; body depth 10.0-11.7% SL; eye diameter 3.3-3.5% SL; when fresh dark purplish gray dorsally, pale silvery blue on sides and ventrally; yellow on interorbital and most of head anterior to eye; dusky on front of snout and tip of lower jaw; series of 6-7 black spots at edge of dorsal fin; without black dots in fins; caudal fin with a broad blackish posterior border (Ref. 83531).