Body is deep, compressed and has an oval shape. It is covered with tiny, deciduous cycloid scales. The head is compressed and the dorsal profile is strongly keeled with a more pronounced keel behind the eye. The mouth is small and terminal, with a curved downward posterior slit reaching the middle of the eye. The upper jaw is immovable and covered with skin, featuring minute teeth. However, there are no teeth on the vomer and palatine. The pectoral fins are long and the dorsal and anal fin base lengths are almost equal. The caudal fin is deeply forked.