Distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: 15-20 branched anal-fin rays; four or five scales in transverse series from the dorsal-fin origin to the lateral line; shallow body (depth 23.6-30.6% of SL); 37-43 perforated lateral line scales; first, third and fifth or, more rarely, first and fourth outer premaxillary tricuspid teeth projecting anteroventrally; two to five tricuspid to pentacuspid maxillary teeth, followed by five to seven smaller conical to tricuspid teeth; conspicuous dark, vertically elongated humeral spot, extending to below the lateral line; dark dorsal stripe extending from supra-occipital spine to the caudal peduncle with a gap at the adipose-fin base; caudal-fin lobes without conspicuous markings, uniformly pigmented along rays; no hooks on the pelvic and anal-fin rays in mature males (Ref. 54761).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays ii, 8, rarely ii, 7 or 9. Pectoral-fin rays i, 10-13. Pelvic-fin rays i, 7, rarely i, 6 or 8. Anal fin rays ii-iii, 15-20 (Ref. 54761).