This species is distinguished by the following: D IX,12, with the first two dorsal-fin spines short, their length similar to those of other spines of dorsal fin, and eleventh dorsal-fin soft ray longest with depressed tip of last dorsal-fin soft ray reaching vertical through caudal-fin base; A III,12; pectoral-fin rays 12; lateral line interrupted, pored lateral-line scales 19-21 + 5–6; scale rows below lateral line 10 (rarely 9); small scale below eye; vertical small scale rows on cheek 7 and each row narrowly separated from adjacent rows; central gill raker of upper limb of first gill arch with 2 branches; central gill raker of lower limb of first gill arch with single branch; body depth 33.6-41.5% of SL; head length 29.6-32.1% of SL; pre-pectoral-fin length 26.5-29.9% of SL; orbit diameter 5.0-6.8 % of SL; head without blotches and small milky-white blotches on anal-fin base and caudal peduncle (Ref. 127939).