Body elliptical and strongly compressed, body depth 3.3 in SL. Small eyes on left side of body. Very small teeth in anterior half of upper jaw of ocular side; lower jaw without teeth. Preopercular margin not free, covered with scales and skin. Caudal fin connected with dorsal and anal fins. Pelvic fin separated from anal fin. Scales on body ctenoid. Body pale brown with irregular vertical dark brown bars; an indistinct dark brown blotch on opercle; posterior parts of dorsal and anal fins dark brown; caudal fin also dark brown.
Distribution:
From West Indies to Brazil.
Remarks:
This species is separable from other species of Symphurus by having 12 rays in the caudal fin and the higher numbers of dorsal and anal fin rays. (Matsuura)