This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 16-17; first gill arch with long gill rakers 15-18; pectoral-fin rays 17-18; HL:HD 1.50-1.72; few and mostly weak head spines on ethmoidal, interorbital, supraorbital, sphenotic, outer posttemporal while absent on lacrimal, prefrontal, 5th infraorbital, supratemporal, inner posttemporal, inner and outer preopercular rim; opercular spine is weak and flat; opercular flap small; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 16-18; narrow dentition patch on vomer with 2-4 rows of teeth while moderately broad dentition patch on palatines with 4-9 rows of teeth; otolith with single colliculum; OL:OH = 1.25-1.5; OL:TCL = 2.0-2.1 (Ref. 125143).