Body oblong, compressed, and not very deep (depth contained 2.7 to 3.0 times in standard length); mouth small and terminal mouth, its posterior edge located at the same level as the anterior rim of the eye; first gill arch with 25 to 27 gill rakers; dorsal fin deeply notched, with 12 spines and 14 to 16 soft rays (XII, 14-15); second anal spine longer than third; scale series above lateral line oblique; body silvery gray, with light or dark longitudinal stripes along the series of scales, and with 5 or 6 dark vertical bars; internal side of pectoral fins with a large black spot, scarcely visible when fins folded (Ref. 55763).