Diagnosis: 40-42 (Ref. 2936, 86396) or 39-43 (Ref. 81638) lateral line scales. Snout and anal fin long; head length 3.1-3.5x SL; 11-12 scales around caudal peduncle; 1 or 2 scales between anus and anal-fin origin; pectoral with total of 10-12 branched rays; pelvic with total of 9-10 branched rays; pectoral fins not reaching to pelvic fin bases; dorsal-fin origin distinctly ahead of pelvic-fin insertions (Ref. 2936, 86396). Head and body with dark band along mid-lateral surface from snout to at least rear of caudal peduncle (Ref. 81638). Mid-lateral band on body broad, with scale-centres light, and ending posteriorly in a rounded blotch that extends partly unto caudal-fin base (Ref. 2936, 86396). 12-13 (Ref. 81638) or 12-14 (Ref. 2936, 86396) total dorsal fin rays. 15 (Ref. 81638) or 13-15 (Ref. 2936, 86936) total anal fin rays.

Description: snout long and broad; eyes lateral; wide interorbital space (21.2-24.9% head length); head elongate (28.4-32.1% SL) (Ref. 2936, 86396). Body depth 0.17-0.23 SL and slightly laterally compressed; maxilla edentulous, premaxilla and dentary each with 6-8 bicuspid teeth; body scales ctenoid and moderately sized; lateral line scales completely pored in larger specimens except for terminal 1-2 scales; 4-5 scales between anal fin origin and lateral line; dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 9-10 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 12 branched rays (Ref. 81638). 6-8 scales on mid-lateral line between level of posterior end of adipose-fin base and caudal-fin base (Ref. 2936, 86396). 4-5 (Ref. 81638) or 5-5.5 (Ref. 2936, 86396) scales between dorsal fin origin and lateral line.

Coloration: ground colouration light brown (Ref. 81638) to pale yellowish-brown (Ref. 2936, 86396). Distinct horizontal band of pigmentation extending from snout to eye; postorbital region with variably developed dark pigmentation sometimes in form of horizontal band that extends to margin of opercle (Ref. 81638). Dorsal portion of head dark (Ref. 2936, 81638, 86396). Zone of brownish pigmentation on belly from anus to posterior end of anal fin, often extending forward to inner sides of pelvic-fin bases (Ref. 2936, 86396). Mid-lateral band about 2 scales high; scales variably margined with dark pigmentation that forms reticulate pattern dorsal to mid-lateral band; dorsal portions of body darker; live specimens with upper portion of iris yellow, dorsal portion of body brown, belly silvery, narrow gold band overlying mid-lateral band, dorsal fin with faintly orange-red colouration and base of caudal fin with some red pigmentation (Ref. 81638). More details on fin colouration can be found in Ref. 81638.