Body moderately oblong, deep, compressed, upper pro- 
file little more curved; caudal peduncle length 3/5 to 2/3 
its least depth, which 2 1/5 to 2 3/8 in total head length. 
Head width 11/6 to 21/10 its length. Snout conic, compress- 
ed, width 1 te 11/5 its length. Eye elevated ebout midway 
in head length, hind edge midway in young. Mouth rather large, 
jaws powerful, even or lower slightly produced, Free preorbi- 
tal down at groove till opposite front eye edge, “axillary 
concealed. Lips wide, thick, fleshy. Teeth conic, mostly 
uniserial, several inside forward; pair of large curved ca- 
nines in front of each jaw, lower pair closer. Nostrils 
small, well separated; front one at last fourth in snout; 
hind one midway between front one and eye. Interorbital con- 
vex. Preopercle edge membranous, free. Rakers iv 2 to 4}-6 
short rudimentary points, 2 1/2 in filaments, which 1 3/4 in 
eye. Head scaly, except muzzle, preorbital and suborbitals; 
2 rows of broad scales largely cover cheek, only broad preoper- 
cle flange naked below; scales uniformly large and narrowly 
tmbricated, elongated and extending well out along bases of 
vertical fins and large scale on caudal basally half fin's 
extent; scales with basal radiating striae 8 to 10, apical 
22 to 24, fuse central reticulations; circuli very fine; upper 
section of lateral line concurrent with edge of dorsal squa- 
mous area, extends until below fifth dorsal ray base; lower 
