This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 16-17; first gill arch with long gill rakers 12-15; pectoral-fin rays 15-18; HL:HD 1.71-1.88; most head spines are weak, present on ethmoidal, prefrontal, interorbital, sphenotic, outer posttemporal and absent on lacrimal, supraorbital, 5th infraorbital, supratemporal, inner posttemporal, inner and outer preopercular rim; opercular spine weak and flat; opercular flap small; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 17; narrow dentition patch on vomer with 1-2 rows of teeth while broad dentition patch on palatines with 5-8 rows of teeth; otolith with single colliculum; OL:OH = 1.15; OL:TCL = 3.25 (Ref. 125143).