This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 17-19; first gill arch with long gill rakers 14-18; HL:HD 1.81-2.03; all head spines are strong, present on ethmoidal, lacrimal, prefrontal, interorbital, supraorbital, sphenotic, 5th infraorbital, supratemporal, inner and outer posttemporal, inner and outer preopercular rims; opercular spine is sharp, strong, extruding; maxilla with scales; small opercular flap with ridges; lower lateral line pores extend until beginning of anal fin 23-26; broad dentition patch on vomer (3-5 rows of teeth) and palatines (4-9 rows of teeth); otolith with separate ostial and caudal colliculi; OL:OH = 1.55-1.9; OL:TCL = 1.7-1.9 (Ref. 125143).