Diagnosis: head length 32.6-35.2 %SL; snout length 26.5-31.0 % head length; lower jaw length 33.3-36.2 % head length; premaxillary pedicel 21.5-25.8 % head length; interorbital 18.9-24.0 % head length; lachrymal 17.9-20.9 % head length; lower pharyngeal jaw 30.5-33.8 % head length; 14-18 gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch; predorsal distance 35.6-38.5 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: dorsal body profile more strongly convex than ventral body profile; head small; snout short and blunt; mouth small; maxilla extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye, or just beyond; gape inclined at about 20° to horizontal; outer oral teeth small, bicuspid and close-set, becoming unicuspid posteriorly; inner oral teeth tricuspid; 1-3 series of scales on cheek; gill-rakers on lower limb moderately long and slender; lower pharyngeal jaw normal; all pharyngeal teeth fine; mature males with prolonged and filamentous posterior rays in dorsal and anal fin (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale yellowish brown; 7 faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin pale with faint grey submarginal band and grey, vertical to oblique, bands in soft dorsal; all other fins pale (Ref. 55898). Mature males: snout, chin and belly darker; dorsal fin grey with darker submarginal band, and white tips and lappets; soft dorsal entirely dark; anal and ventral fins with dark leading edge (Ref. 55898).