This species is distinguished by the following characters: first dorsal fin is tall; the crescent-shaped supraoccipital sensory canal; white to yellowish band across the posterior portion of second dorsal fin, the continuing to lateral line; further, with D III + XII-XIII + 8-10 (usually III + XII + 8 or 9, rarely 10); A I,15-18 (rarely 15, usually 17); pectoral-fin 14, with all rays simple; lateral line with 10-12 (usually 12) pored scales, 21-23 (usually 21) notched scales and total lateral scales 27-28; dentary pores 2 + 1 or 2 + 2, usually 2 + 2 + 2; head 3.3-4.0 [3.5] in SL; eye 2.6-3.2 [3.0] in HL: head, chest and pectoral-fin base are naked; nape scaled; abdomen naked, but scales extend to base of dorsal and anal fins; a row of scales at base of caudal fin; supratemporal sensory canal is crescent-shaped; supraorbital cirrus a rounded, flat ‘paddle’, its length about equal to pupil diameter; the first dorsal fin higher than second in adult males, while equal to slightly higher in females and in juveniles; the longest pectoral-fin ray reaches junction between second and third dorsal fins; longest pelvic-fin ray reaches first anal-fin ray in some individuals (Ref. 88983).