This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: maxilla rather short, 16.7- 18.2% SL (mean 17.5%), its posterior tip slightly short of, or reaching to, or slightly beyond posterior margin of preopercle; mandible short, 14.3–15.3% SL (14.7%); posterior margin of preopercle convexly rounded (not indented); no predorsal scute; prepelvic scutes 3–6 (modally 4); pelvic scute without spine; gill rakers on first gill arch, upper series 14-16 (16), lower series 21–23 (23), total 35-39 (39); gill rakers on second gill arch, upper series 10-12 (11), lower series 18-20 (20), total 28-32 (30); gill rakers on third gill arch, upper series 8-9 (9), lower series 10-12 (11), total 18-21 (20); gill rakers on fourth gill arch, upper series 7-8 (8), lower series 9-10 (9), total 16-18 (17); gill rakers 3-5 (5) on posterior face of the third gill arch; transverse scales 8; pseudobranchial filaments 20-27 (22); parietal and occipital regions with paired dark patches; double dark lines on dorsum from occipital region to dorsal-fin origin but none behind dorsal-fin base; suborbital area and tip of lower jaw wibthout lack spots; head rather short, 22.0-24.0% SL (mean 23.0%), postorbital length 11.5-12.4% SL (11.9%); caudal peduncle long, 21.9-23.7% SL (22.8%); pelvic fin relatively short, 8.3-9.0% SL (8.6%), when depressed not reaching posteriorly to vertical through dorsal-fin origin; distance from snout to pectoral-fin insertion 25.0-27.0% SL (25.6%); distance from snout to pelvic-fin insertion 42.8-44.4% (43.3%); dorsal-fin base is short, 12.6-14.8% SL (13.9%); anal-fin base is short, 16.0-17.8% SL (16.9%); third dorsal-fin ray is short, 14.8-15.7% SL (15.3%); third anal fin ray is short, 11.9-13.8% (12.5%); vertebral count 21 or 22 (modally 21) + 21 or 22 (21) = 42 or 43 (42) (Ref. 124636).