This species is distinguished by the following characters: A III,5; rigid dorsal-fin spines; snout relatively short, length 13.5-16.9% (mean 15.3%) of SL, shorter than postorbital length; posterior margin of maxilla reaching to or extending beyond vertical through middle of pupil; distance between tips of lateral lacrimal and first suborbital spines shorter than or subequal to that between tips of first and second suborbital spines; with supplemental preopercular spine; poorly developed tentacles on supraocular and posterior lacrimal spines, their lengths usually less than (rarely longer than) orbit diameter; there are a few tentacles on trunk and fins; well-developed lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines, with pointed tips; absence of distinct black blotch on anterodistal part of soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin (Ref. 106976).