This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 16-17; first gill arch with long gill rakers 15-18; pectoral-fin rays 15-18; HL:HD 1.49-1.73; few and mostly weak head spines on ethmoidal, supraorbital, sphenotic, supratemporal, outer posttemporal, inner preopercular rim while absent on lacrimal, prefrontal, interorbital, 5th infraorbital, inner posttemporal, outer preopercular rim; opercular spine weak and flat; opercular flap small; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 15-17; narrow dentition patch on vomer with 1-2 rows of teeth while palatines with moderately broad dentition patch with 3–4 rows of teeth; otolith with single colliculum; OL:OH = 1.0–1.2; OL:TCL = 1.8 (Ref. 125143).