This species is distinguished by the following characters: D2 14; A 14; lateral line scales 73-82; total gill rakers 19-26; interorbit becoming wider with growth, narrower than orbital diameter; no distinct interopercular flap, sometimes a small flap or weak convexity is present; supraoccipital with a ridge; much longer preopercular spine than upper, often extending nearly to posterior margin of opercle, length ratio of lower to upper spines, 1.9-3.3:1 and this ratio tends to become smaller with growth; no large canine teeth on anteromedial part of upper jaw; no small dark dots on head and body; posteroventral part of caudal fin with blackish or dark-brownish marking (Ref. 94990).