This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: presence of a superior midlateral stripe; an ossified first basibranchial; A 198-217 fin rays; suborbital depth, 21.3-26.1% HL; length of anterodorsal process of maxilla equal to the width of the posterior nostril; distinct dentition pattern of the premaxilla with 17 teeth distributed in three rows; hyaline pectoral and anal fins; and 9-10 scale series above lateral line (Ref. 128865).