Body well compressed, elongate, back scarcely elevated; 
least depth of caudal peduncle 1 1/8 to 1 2/5 its length or 5 
in total head length. Snout, conic, compressed, width 1 1/3 
to 14 its length. Eye rather ellipsoid, front pupil edge 
about midway in head length, little posterior in largeer 
example. Mouth moderate, lower jaw slightly protrudes or 
jaws nearly even in young. Lips thick, tough, fleshy, Max- 
illary to hind nostril. Four short conic canines in front 
of each jaw, followed by row of moderate molars along each 
jaw edge; no other teeth. Front nostril about last fourth 
in snout, hind one well separated behind and closer to eye 
above. Interorbitsal convex. Preopercle entire, 
Rakers v?tv, short tubercles, much less than filaments, 
which about 3 1/6 in eye. ‘Scales in longitudinal rows; basal 
radiating striae 12 to 15, with 4 to 5 accessory or incomplete 
submerginals; apical denticles 82 to 106; circuli very fine; 
smaller scales on breast, opercle and caudal base; opercle 
with 6 rows of scales; lateral line concurrent with dorsal 
profile, extends little above middle along caudal peduncle 
side, and tubes simple. Fifth dorsal spine 2% to 3 in head; 
fourth dorsal ray 2¢ to 2 3/5; third anal spine 5 to 5 2/5; 
first branched anal ray 2 2/35 to 5; upper caudal lobe 1 1/3 to 
1 2/5; pectoral 1¢ to 1 1/3; ventral 1g to 1 2/3. 
