This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: lower jaw with only villiform teeth posterior to a canine tooth near symphysis; absence of basioccipital fossa; proximal-middle radial of first anal-fin pterygiophore with angular concavity on anterior surface; pectoral-fin rays 16 (rarely 15); first gill arch with gill rakers on lower arm 14-18; lateral-line scales 45-49; scales cycloid and very weakly ctenoid (Ref. 123567).