Adult: 7.6-57.0 cm TL; body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on 17 specimens measuring 9.0-57.0 cm TL): 8.3-20.2 prebranchial length, 7.9-11.8 branchial length, 47.6-61.5 trunk length, and 16.1-31.1 tail length; urogenital papilla not prominent in mature adults; trunk myomeres, 70-78; dentition: supraoral lamina with 4 unicuspid teeth (2 pointed central ones flanked by broad lateral flanges), infraoral lamina with 9-15 unicuspid teeth, 8-9 unicuspid endolaterals on each side, 5-7 rows of anterials, first row of anterials with 1-4 unicuspid teeth, 6-8 rows of exolaterals on each side, 1 row of posterials in feeding phase adults with 12 radial plates possibly flanked on each side by 2 unicuspid teeth and in spawning adults about 3 rows (the first consisting of 9 unicuspid teeth), transverse lingual lamina with 3 unicuspid teeth (the median one enlarged in recently metamorphosed individuals), 3 unicuspid teeth (the lateral ones greatly enlarged in feeding individuals and 2 unicuspid teeth in mature individuals), longitudinal lingual laminae each with 4 unicuspid teeth; velar tentacles, 23-40; body coloration (live) in prespawning adults: dorsal surface dark with a pair of longitudinal blue-green stripes running along the dorso-lateral aspect and ventral surface silvery; spawning adults dark blue on dorsal surface and light blue on ventral surface; lateral line neuromasts darkly pigmented; caudal fin shape, rounded; oral fimbriae, 55-65; oral papillae, 16-19 (Ref. 89241).