This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: unique color pattern consisting of bluish-gray body with sides possessing single, minute black spot on each scale, visibly arranged as 8-9 horizontal rows of broken lines; large black spots on head, lips, and lower-jaw undersurface in adult specimens absent; lateral scale rows possessing a single, minute black spot on each scale, visibly arranged as 8-9 horizontal rows of broken lines originating from preopercle, sometimes behind eye in juveniles, and extending to caudal peduncle; transverse scale rows from post-drop to anal-fin origin 7.5-8.5; pored lateral-line scales 47-49; grayish-yellow pectoral fin with 6-8 thin, ochre-yellow to cream bands appearing in wavy pattern in adults; rows of teeth on palatine 2; and triangular-shaped palatine (Ref. 138500).