This species is distinguished by the following characters: cephalic sensory-canal pore system missing only IT pore (pattern 2); dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 7/7 or 8/7; unbranched pectoral-fin rays; 5th pelvic-fin ray 15.9-16.4% of 4th ray; presence of a narrow dark bar at caudal-fin base; with a red line extending down from under eye to jaws; there are 5 postanal ventral-midline spots associated with subcutaneous bars; 2 distinctive black crescent-shaped marks present underneath the pectoral fin (Ref. 113376).