Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous ; depth range 0 - 30 m . Tropical; 38°N - 1°N, 47°E - 136°E

Maturity: Lm 16.2  range ? - ? cm Max length : 27.2 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 15.0 cm SL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 19; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 21 - 25. Diagnosis: Body rather deep, its depth about 34-41% of standard length, belly with 17-20 + 9-13 scutes, total 28-32 scutes; anterior arm of pre-operculum with the third infra-orbital bone immediately above it, no fleshy gap between; mouth inferior, lower jaw strongly flared outward; last dorsal finray filamentous; pectoral axillary scale present; hind edge of scales distinctly toothed; a dark spot behind gill opening . Resembles Nematalosa galatheae, which has spots along the flank and a smooth hind edge to scales; Nematalosa arabica, N. come and N. japonica all have a distinct fleshy triangular area above the anterior arm of the pre-operculum and none have toothed scale edges; no other clupeid in the distribution area of Nematalosa nasus has a filamentous dorsal finray .
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: compressed.