Body slender, cylindrical. Fins without spines. Dorsal fin single, anterior to middle of body. Adipose fin present. Photophores absent. Lateral line present, scales not enlarged. Pelvic fin ray 9, the inner rays about equal to or shorter than outer rays. Palatine with 2 tooth rows. Lateral-line scales 51〜56, rows of complete scales between lateral line and base of dorsal fin 4. Dorsal fin origin about midpoint between adipose fin and tip of snout. Lower jaw shorter than upper jaw, its tip not visible from above when mouth closed. Body depth and width at origin of pelvic fin about equal. Pectoral fin tip exceeding pelvic fin insertion when depressed.
Distribution:
Distributed from east coast of U.S.A. to Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and northern South America.
Remarks:
This is the only species having shorter lower jaw than the upper in the genus from the western Atlantic. (Uyeno and Aizawa)