Diagnosis: head length 35.7 %SL; snout length 30.4 % head length; snout pointed; lower jaw length 37.4 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; gape inclined at about 20° from horizontal; premaxillary pedicel length 26.5 % head length; cheek depth 22.6 % head length; eye diameter 34.8 % head length; body depth 37.2 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: fairly elongate species; dorsal body profile convex; ventral body profile almost straight; snout profile straight; mouth moderate; maxilla extending to just beyond vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth bicuspid; inner oral teeth tricuspid; 2 series of scales on cheek; upper margin of eye almost touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw stout; some central pharyngeal teeth enlarged and molariform; gill-rakers on lower limb short (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Mature male: body brownish yellow; 7-8 vertical bars below dorsal fin; snout and chin dark; dorsal fin grey with narrow black submarginal band and white lappets and tips; soft dorsal with dark grey spots; anal fin with dark grey spots on inter-radial membranes; anal and ventral fins with black leading edges (Ref. 55898).