Distinctive characters : Body oblong & compressed. Abdomen rounded. Head large & compressed. snout blunt. Mouth anterior, cleft not very wide. eyes large, lateral, in middle of the head, not visible from below ventral surface. dorsal fin inserted above pelvic base with 19-21 rays, last ray prolonged, and no spine. Anal fin with 24-27 rays. Caudal fin deeply forked. scales large, brilliantly silver in colour.

Megalops cyprinoides is the single species so far known.