Diagnosis: snout and head acute; jaws protrusible (ascending process of premaxilla extends to anterior border of orbit); flanks often marked by a series of uneven chain-like bars; soft dorsal and anal fins acute and when spread closely appressed to dorsal and ventral margins of caudal fin, forming continuous sheet of fin (Ref. 57414).

Description: 1 cephalic pore in interocular space; 25 scales in lateral series; 14-16 scales in upper lateral line; 9-14 scales in lower lateral line; 2.5-3 scales above upper lateral line; 7-9.5 scales below; operculum, suboperculum, interoperculum well serrated; preoperculum often serrated; 16 soft rays in caudal fin (Ref. 57414).

Coloration: body, head and unpaired fins light to dark brown; distinct, dark spot (usually ocellated even in adults) present at base of caudal fin and flank marked by narrow and irregular bars; pelvic fins well pigmented, sometimes bearing several dark spots or stripes; juveniles largely pigmented as adults, although caudal spot more strongly ocellated and flank bars more strongly defined; living specimens patterned as above, coloured in various shades of brown (Ref. 57414).