This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: posterior end of maxilla is strongly hooked; membranes connecting maxilla and premaxilla and covering inner posterior part of dentary pale; D X-XI,12-13; A III,11-12; branched caudal-fin rays 11-13 (exceptionally 5); cheek and opercle are naked; oblique body-scale rows in longitudinal series 33-39; has a very long pelvic fins, 39.4-75.3% SL; with L. lemur, differs from congeners in lacking an inner premaxillary dark stripe and having fewer numbers of segmented dorsal and anal-fin rays and associated unbranched rays (Ref. 116588).