The body is initially deep, becoming more elongated and highly compressed as it grows. Profile of the nape and head is broadly rounded and the suborbital depth is relatively narrow, ranging from 0.8 to 1.0 times the upper jaw length. Pectoral fins are falcate and longer than the head. In young individuals, the pelvic fins are elongated. There are 12–17 lower gill rakers and in some cases, anal fin rays may be filamentous even in adults. The coloration is predominantly silvery with a light metallic bluish tint on the upper one-third of the body and head. Juveniles exhibit five chevron-shaped dark bars on the body and a black blotch at the base of the 3rd to 6th soft dorsal fin ray with filaments that are black at their distal ends.