This species is distinguished by the following characters: Dorsal rays XIV,12-13, usually 13; anal rays II,12-14, usually 13; pectoral rays 18-19, usually 19; spiniform caudal rays 3; tubed lateral-line scales 14-16; gill rakers 6-7 + 17-18, usually 7 + 18, total 24-25, usually 25; body depth 1.58-1.83 in SL; the color when fresh is dark gray with a large iridescent dark blue spot at center of each scale; membranes on median fins and pelvic fins opaque charcoal gray, with an iridescent dark blue margin on the spinous part of the dorsal and anal fins; caudal fin mottled iridescent dark blue and black; pectoral fins with a black ovoid spot covering the basal portion and pectoral-fin axis (Ref. 59379).