The body is elongated. The dorsal and anal fins are connected to the caudal fin with the first ray of the dorsal fin being enlarged and independent. There are 11–15 pectoral fin rays and the scales are smooth, either cycloid or weakly ctenoid on both sides. Color is greyish or brown, marked by 15–16 dark bars with black edges. The caudal fin is blackish with pale or yellow spots.