Differs from other species of shemayas by the combination of the following characters: origin of anal fin about 1½ -2½ scales behind dorsal-fin base; anal fin with 15-17½ branched rays; gill rakers 24-28; length of gill raker at angle between upper and lower limbs of first gill arch 30-50% of opposite inner gill filament; lateral line scales 54-64 + 4-5; ventral keel exposed for 4-6 scales in front of anus; head length 21-23% SL; predorsal length 55-57% SL; caudal peduncle depth 9-11% SL,1.7-2.0 times in its length; eye diameter 4.7-5.5% SL, 1.4-1.5 times in interorbital distance; absence of faint grey midlateral stripe; in adult spawners, base of paired fins grey; and presence of numerous small tubercles in nuptial males (Ref. 75106).

Description: dorsal fin with 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 15 -17½ branched rays (Ref. 75106).