Atlantic sabretooth anchovy

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 21-28. Depth widely variable. Snout about 2/3 eye diameter; maxilla moderate, pointed, reaching onto sub-operculum. Gill rakers short, the longest not less than pupil diameter in adults. Dorsal fin origin behind midpoint of body; anal fin origin below 6th-8th branched dorsal fin rays. Silver stripe up to twice eye diameter at widest, lost in fishes over 10 cm SL. Curve of black dots on operculum (Ref. 189). Grayish blue dorsally, fins yellowish with translucent membranes and a blackish caudal margin (Ref. 27363).