Body deep and moderately compressed, the depth much greater than head length; eyes small; upper jaw scarcely protractile; vomer, palate and tongue toothless; nostrils round and close together; preopercle distinctly serrated; lower branch of first gill arch with 15 gill rakers; in large individuals, the dorsal and anal fins, along with the caudal fin, appear like 3 caudal fins; body olive colored, speckled with dark spots; juveniles yellowish with dark spots (Ref. 55763).