This species is distinguished by the following characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending about 0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively slender and tubular, the third infraorbital with moderate posterolateral projecting arm ending with large sensory canal opening, no suborbital shelf; D XI,11; A II,11; vertebrae 10+16; gill rakers 12+25. Colouration: nape with a dark blotch slightly in advance of dorsal-fin origin; dorsum with a row of 5 dark blotches extending distinctly onto dorsal fin and the last blotch on dorsal fin at least as wide as anterior blotches (Ref. 128653).