Africa: coastal basins, fresh waters, brackish and marine waters from mouth of Senegal River (Senegal) to mouth of the Cuanza River (Angola), sometimes ascending far up rivers. Max length: 30 cm SL Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Diagnosis: upper profile of head strongly convex; lower pharyngeal bone about as long as broad, and with anterior lamella shorter than toothed area. 10 or fewer rakers on lower limb of first arch; unpaired fins not predominantly red-brown; mouth terminal; 29-30 scales on lateral line; outer row teeth robust. Dorsal fin with 14-16 spines and 12-13 soft rays (total rays 27-29). Anal fin with 3 spines and 8-10 soft rays; caudal fin weakly covered with scales at base or entirely membranous. Caudal without spots, grey on upper lobe, yellow on lower; large vertical stripes weakly pronounced on flanks; flank scales with a blackish mark at base. No bifurcated dark vertical bars on flanks; dorsal and anal without orange-red upper margin. Length of caudal peduncle 10.5-12.9% of standard length.
