This species is distinguished by the following characters: rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly and extending about 0.7 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively slender and tubular, third infraorbital with short posterolateral projecting arm ending with large sensory canal opening, no suborbital shelf; D XI,11-12; A II,10; vertebrae 10+16; total gill rakers 32-34; tips of the dorsal-fin spines with conspicuous pale tabs; dorsum with a row of 5 dark blotches that extend distinctly onto the dorsal fin; the last blotch on dorsal fin at least as wide as anterior blotches; scale rows on the body appear to form series of narrow dark stripes (Ref. 128653).