Body slender, cylindrical. Dosal fin single, anterior to middle of body. Adipose fin present, photophore absent. Lateral line present, scales not enlarged. Pelvic fin at abdomen, with 8 rays; the inner ray much longer than outer ray. Origin of anal fin much nearer to base of caudal fin than to insertion of pectoral fin, base less than 18% of SL. Palatine teeth in a single row. Lateral-line scales 56〜65, predorsal scales 20〜30, and 4 to 6 complete scales between lateral line and base of dorsal fin. Anal fin rays 11〜13, base longer or same as dorsal fin base. Pectoral fins short, not reaching pelvic fin insertion.
Distribution:
This species distributed on the Atlantic coasts of U.S.A. from Cape Cod to Brazil.
Remarks:
This species differs from other members of western Atlantic species by having lateral-line scales 56〜65, predorsal scales 20〜30, and 4〜6 complete scales between lateral line and dorsal fin base. (Uyeno and Aizawa)