snout 3% to 4 1/3 in head from upper jaw tip; eye 3; maxil- 
lary 3 to 31/10; interorbital 5 1/5 to 6.. 
Body strongly compressed, back elevated; predorsal with 
slight keel; least depth of caudal peduncle 7/8 to 1 in its 
length or 2 2/5 to 2 4/5 in total head length, Head width 
2 878-to 2 3/4 in its length; upper profile greatly concave, 
Snout length 7/8 to 1 in its width . Hind eye edge midway 
in head length, little posterior in younger. Mouth moderate, 
mandible well protruded. Maxillary to or slightly beyond 
eye front; expansion 2 to 2 1/5 in eye. Teeth small, in 
bands in jaws, on vomer and palatines, Nostrils well sepa- 
rated, front one about last third in snout. interorbital 
depressed, rising up with convex surface sutu: Preorbital 
with 5 or 6 backward directed spines. along lower edge; 
preopercle edge denticulate, 2 large spines at angle, upper 
large and directed upward, suprascapula entire. 
Rakers 6 to 8+17 or 18, lanceolate, 2 1/8 to 2% in eye; 
filaments 7/8 to 1 in rakers. ‘Scales cy¢loid, in slightly 
waved longitudinal rows; basal radiating marginal striae 7 to 
12; circuli about 25 to 50; 10 rows of scales on cheek; 5 rows 
of scales at upper maxillary end; small scales form rather 
broad sheaths to spinous and rayed dorsal and anal; broad 
adnate scaly flap in pectoral axil; lateral line strongly 
arched in front little over half its length, tubes simple, 
