This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep; greatest depth 2.4-2.6 in SL; preopercular notch and knob well developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without medial posterior extension; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-7 + 13-15 = 20-23; caudal fin emarginate; scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Colour generally grey to pinksh, silvery ventrally; a series of 10-12 faint yellow stripes on side; some specimens with a black spot, eye size or smaller, below anterior part of soft dorsal fin at level of lateral line; spinous dorsal fin whitish with a yellow margin; median fins yellowish, although pelvic fins sometimes white; axil of pectoral fins brown on dorsal portion (Ref. 9821, 90102).