This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: a small species, maximum recorded adult size 42.7 mm SL; dorsal projection adjacent to the opercular odontode patch present; posterior nostril about equidistant from anterior nostril and from orbit; a compact broad autopalatine, its width about equal to its length excluding anterior cartilage and postero-lateral process; anterior broad and rounded projection on the interopercle present; six pectoral-fin rays; 12 opercular odontodes; 30-34 premaxillary teeth; 32–34 dentary teeth; anterior jaw teeth incisiform, posterior teeth pointed; largest rays of the dorsal and anal fins shorter than respective fin bases; dorsal and anal fins subtrapezoidal; head width 73.7-78.5% of the head length; interorbital length 21.6-26.2%; mesethmoid thin, its width at the base of cornua about half autopalatine width; and metapterygoid longer than deep, approximately triangular (Ref. 138850).