Color in life silver gray, translucent on body, variable amount of bright yellow pigment on head and body, most commonly on snout, jaws and throat; side of snout sometimes with dark dots; black caudal spot pupil size or smaller; fins pale; diffuse orange stripe above anal-fin base. Rays: dorsal rays VII,9; anal II,15-17 (usually 16); pectoral 14 (rarely 13 or 15). Lateral line scales 25 + 3-4; median predorsal scales 5-6 (rarely 5). Gill rakers 5-7 + 15-18. Body depth 2.6-3.2 in SL; body width 2.2-2.8 in depth; eye diameter 2.7-4.4 in HL; first dorsal spine 1.1-1.4 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.2-3.0; third dorsal spine 2.3-3.0 in HL; spine of second dorsal fin 2.6-3.1, and second anal spine 3.4-4.5 in HL; pelvic-fin length 4.5-5.8, and caudal-peduncle length 4.5-5.4 in SL. Distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 4.5-5.7 in SL. Preopercular edge smooth except for serrae at angle and on posterior half of ventral edge. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base poorly developed.