This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: palatine processes of palatoquadrates subdivided near the symphysis with a short, separate medial segment on each side; pre-second dorsal length 55.5-57.9% TL; upper labial furrows are shorter than lower ones, the uppers 0.7-1.1% TL and 0.6-0.9 times lowers; buccopharyngeal denticles cover most of the tongue and roof of mouth to about the third or fourth gill arch; no hypercalcification of skeletal elements, but no adult specimens examined; dorsal fins moderately large, upright with first dorsal-fin anterior margin 13.9-15.8% TL, height 9.2-10.1% TL; teeth in 69-80/64-73 files; precaudal vertebral centra 87-91, monospondylous centra 33-39; no small white spots on dorsal surface of body, including along lateral line; first dorsal fin without a white margin, the upper half dusky to blackish; second dorsal fin blackish distally; caudal fin with a narrow white margin and a distinct black tip on terminal caudal lobe (Ref. 124465).