Strongly compressed body; no scales on head; no lateral line; single dorsal fin; fatty eyelid in front of eye; no spines in fins; sharply pointed scales on belly; no teeth on jaws of adult; cheek deeper (top to bottom) than long (front to rear); mouth not strongly oblique; lower jaw extends to tip of snout or slightly beyond; green or blue back and silvery sides; blue-black spot near upper edge of gill opening, usually followed by one or two rows of smaller spots; 59-73 rakers on lower limb of first gill arch of adult. Total length up to 75 cm.