Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII, 15, membrane attached to caudal fin, with deep notch above last spine, first spine about equal to twice higher than second; anal fin II, 16; pectoral rays 15; pelvic fin I, 4; caudal fin procurrent rays 10-15. Vertebrae 10 + 21. LL, without scales and scalelike flaps; LL tubes 7-18 (usually 10-18), canal ends below 7th dorsal ray to caudal-fin base. Lower lip crenulated mesially, plicate laterally. Upper lip crenulae 32-46. Gill rakers 18-26. Cephalic sensory pore system complex. Midsnout pores present. Cirri, supraorbital 2-15, nasal 6-16; nuchal 23-36, in 2 groups separated at midpoint of nape, no nuchal flap. Body depth at anal-fin origin 4.3 in SL. Head and body deep and greatly compressed; snout broad and obtuse, convex in profile; eye high and advanced; mouth broad and lower jaw inferior slightly. Geographic variation in color pattern exists; variable body pigmentation - some uniformly brown, other forms with bars or spots, or have colored peduncles, usually yellow or scarlet; black iris with yellow, irregular-shaped inner ring. (Ref. 529, 634, 90102)