This species is distinguished by the following characters: gill rakers (including rudiments) 5-7 + 15-17 = 20-24; breast naked ventrally, typically with a small to large patch of prepelvic scales; colour in life of adults, head and body silvery grey to black above, usually paler below; fins usually uniformly grey to black, fish from turbid coastal waters often with yellow fins, the anal fin usually brightest (Ref. 9894).

Description: Body oblong and compressed, dorsal profile strongly convex anteriorly, ventral profile slightly convex. Adipose eyelid moderately developed, small anteriorly, posterior adipose eyelid extends onto eye to rear border of pupil. End of upper jaw extends to posterior edge of pupil or a little beyond. Upper jaw with outer row of strong canines widely spaced in adults, and an inner band of small villiform teeth, widest at symphysis; lower jaw with a single row of strong conical teeth widely spaced in adults (Ref. 9894, 90102).