Body short, compressed, and not very deep (depth contained 2.5 to 3.0 times in standard length); mouth small and terminal, its posterior end located at the same level as the anterior rim of the eye; first gill arch with 19 to 24 gill rakers; dorsal fin very slightly notched, with 12 to 13 spines and 14 to 15 soft rays (XII-XIII, 14-15); second anal spine stronger than third but of equal length; scale series above lateral line oblique; body silvery gray, with wavy, interrupted, gold or copper colored lines that follow the oblique scale series above the lateral line and that run horizontally below it (Ref. 55763).