This species is characterized by the following: D VI,9; A III,21 (20-22); pectoral-fin rays 16 (16 or 17, mainly 17); lateral-line scales 66 (64-71); scale rows above lateral line to base of dorsal fin 5.5; gill rakers 24 (27-27, modally 25); body depth 3.2 (3.1-3.2) in SL, width 2.0 (1.95-2.15) in body depth; depth of caudal-peduncle 9.25 (9.5-9.8) in SL; head length 2.85 (2.7-2.85) in SL; snout length 11.6 (11.7-12.3) in SL; mouth forming an angle of about 65° to horizontal axis of body; well-spaced outer row of slender, sharply conical, recurved teeth, the upper row more forward-projecting, those of second row more strongly recurved; similar smaller teeth in lower jaw; very small, incurved, sharply conical teeth in a single irregular row on vomer and palatines; thin lips, covered with small greenish spots and larger scattered low purple papillae; tongue broadly triangular, indented slightly near the tip; predorsal length 2.3 (2.3-2.45) in SL; first dorsal-fin soft ray is longest, 4.0 (4.1-4.65) in SL; caudal fin forked, fin length 4.05 (broken in paratypes) in SL; pectoral-fin length 3.1 (3.05-3.2) in SL; prepelvic length 2.7 (2.5-2.7) in SL; pelvic fins not or just reaching the anus, fin length 5.3 (4.55-5.7) in SL; preanal length 1.7 (1.7; 2 specimens too damaged for measurement) in SL; with a pin-like dark line anterior to anus; black iris in preserved holotype (Ref. 107896).