Diagnosis: 46-48 (Ref. 81638) or 47-49 (Ref. 54201) lateral line scales. 6-8 anal fin branched rays; tip of pelvic fin falling short of, or barely extending to rear of, vent; dark pigmentation on body in form of broad bars or with overall dark pigmentation; adipose fin pigmented to at least some degree; completely dark in some larger individuals (Ref. 81638).

Description: body elongate and distinctly flattened ventrally along underside of head and chest (Ref. 54201, 81638). Degree of flattening more pronounced in larger examined specimens (Ref. 54201). Body relatively wide transversely in region from rear of head to vertical through posterior terminus of base of dorsal fin and increasingly transversely-compressed posterior to latter region; snout and dorsal portions of upper lip and head covered with small papillae-like processes (Ref. 54201). Body depth 0.16-0.19x SL and anterior head profile symmetrical (Ref. 81638). Mouth nearly terminal with single row of bicuspid teeth in each jaw; premaxilla and dentary with each 5 (or 6 according to Ref. 54201) teeth; maxilla edentulous (Ref. 54201, 81638). Lower jaw wide (Ref. 54201, 81638), relative to condition in many congeneric species (Ref. 54201). Lower jaw width posteriorly equal to orbital height in larger specimens; lateral ray of pelvic fin unbranched and distal portions of lateral rays very fleshy in many, particularly larger, specimens; middle rays of pelvic fin longest, but not distinctly longer than adjoining rays; D: II,8-10; A: II, 6-8, rarely III,7 (Ref. 81638). Scales ctenoid (Ref. 54201, 81638), with cteni formed by series of independent ossifications positioned along posterior margin of scale (Ref. 54201). Some larger individuals with scattered, hook-like processes on lateral surface of scales medial to pectoral fin (Ref. 81638). Lateral line scales completely pored in larger specimens except for terminal 1-2 scales (Ref. 81638). Last scale in series horizontally elongate (Ref. 54201). 4-5 scales between anal fin origin and lateral line (Ref. 81638). 9-10 (Ref. 81638) or 6-8 (Ref. 54201) branched pelvic-fin rays. 4-5 (Ref. 81638) or 5-6 (Ref. 54201) scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line.

Coloration: preserved specimens tan with ground color apparent in smaller specimens but increasingly masked by darker pigmentation in larger individuals; head with distinct horizontal band of pigmentation from snout to eye and with dorsal portion of head dark in smaller individuals; head dark overall in larger specimens; body of smaller specimens with mid-lateral series of horizontally elongate spots and series of saddle-shaped dark marks situated dorsal to spots and vertical bars located ventral to spots; spots, saddle-like marks and vertical bars variably interconnected; larger specimens with darker overall pigmentation masking these marks and largest individuals with somewhat marbled dark pigmentation over all of head and body other than for ventral surface of head and chest (Ref. 81638). More details on fin coloration can be found in Ref. 81638.