Diagnosed from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: origin of anal fin below branched dorsal-fin ray 7-8; 13-14½ branched anal-fin rays; 18-21 gill rakers; 43-46+3 lateral line scales; ventral keel exposed for 6-9 scales in front of anus; head length 23-26% SL, 1.1-1.2 times in body depth at dorsal-fin origin; predorsal length 57-61% SL; caudal peduncle depth 11% SL, 1.6-1.9 times in its length; caudal peduncle length 18-20% SL; eye diameter 6.4-7.2% SL, 0.97-1.04 times in interorbital distance; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 26-28% SL: faint, dark lateral stripe on body; numerous small tubercles in nuptial males (Ref. 76902).

Description: Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple and 13-14½ branched rays. Scale rows between pelvic- fin origin and lateral line 3 (Ref. 76902).