Diagnosis: snout blunt; jaws weakly protrusible (ascending process of premaxilla short, not reaching anterior border of orbit); pelvic fins unpigmented or very lightly pigmented; labyrinth composed of a more complex, folded plate; 10-18 (rarely 17 or higher) pored scales in upper lateral line; species never larger than 75 mm SL; body depth into SL usually 3 times or more; spot at base of caudal fin often with a pale ring surrounding it even in adults; lachrymal occasionally finely serrated; frequently faint mottling on flanks; 15-16 (rarely 17) spines and 7-10 soft rays in dorsal fin; 9-10 (rarely 11) spines and 8-11 soft rays in anal fin (Ref. 57414).

Description: body elongate and oval, with an angular snout; lachrymal often finely serrated; 1 cephalic pore in interocular space; 24-27 scales in lateral series; 11-15 scales in upper lateral line; 9-14 scales in lower lateral line; 2.5-4 scales above upper lateral line; 7.5-10 scales below upper lateral line; operculum and suboperculum serrated; interoperculum sometimes serrated; preoperculum unserrated; 16 caudal fin soft rays; D XV-XVI,7-10; A IX-XI,8-11; 25-26 total vertebrae (Ref. 57414).