This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: a cephalic sensory-canal pore pattern lacking only IT pore (pattern 2), AITO pore small and opening dorsally; a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 9/8; unbranched pectoral-fin rays 16 or 17 (usually 17); fifth pelvic-fin ray 5-17% of fourth ray; body depth 18-23% SL. Colouration: pectoral-fin base without dark occipital spots or dark spots; entire iris of eye is dark reddish, pupil surrounded by a white ring, dorsal side of eye next to interorbital area has a short white bar not visible laterally; a two-part, black, basicaudal spot over preural centrum made up of a short, wedge-like, triangular front section connecting to a short, wide bar over end of hypural plate, and with a yellow spot over nexus; caudal fin is crossed by thin, red, diagonal bars, pale when preserved (Ref. 127576).