Body is deeply ovoid and flat with a narrow and concave interorbital region in both sexes. The maxilla reaches to or slightly beyond the anterior margin of the lower eye. Teeth in both jaws are uniserial and the gill rakers are short with 7–8 gill rakers on the lower limb of the 1st gill arch. Scales on the eyed side are ctenoid while scales on the blind side are cycloid. There is a lateral line on both sides of the body and the pectoral fin is filamentous in males. In terms of color, the eyed side is pale brownish, featuring three large, prominent dark ocelli—one above and below the pectoral fin and one on the middle of the straight section of the lateral line. The head, body and fins have numerous small, distinct, dark spots.