This species of Starksia is distinguished by the following set of characters: orbital cirrus present; two to three rows of dark blotches on side of body, blotches in middle row (or ventral row if only two rows) mostly circular, never vertically elongate or oval; white (or pale), mostly round spots (absence of melanophores against a darker background) on at least portions of cheek, opercle, and gular region, this spotting pattern more prominent in males; males with dark blotch of pigment on anterior portion of spinous dorsal fin; first anal-fin spine one-half to three-quarters length of male genital papilla; belly naked (Ref. 86414).