This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: lateral lines 2, dorsolateral and midlateral on ocular side and none on the blind side; both sides with ctenoid scales; nostrils on ocular side 2, the posterior nostril immediately anterior to a point between eyes; head length shorter than its depth; posterior margin of ocular-side upper jaw do not reach below posterior rim of lower eye; body depth 25.8-30.2% SL; upper supraorbital length 35.5-47.3% HL; lower supraorbital length 48.8-64.3% HL; horizontal diameter of lower eye 10.1-17.4% HL; dorsolateral line long (DLL) and continuous with 61-70 scales; midlateral line (MLL) with 4-5 + 65-68 = 69-73 scales; scales above DLL 3-4; DLL-MLL with 10-12 scales; cephalodorsal line (CDL) 8 scales; D 115-119; A 90-94; caudal-fn rays 10 (rarely 8 or 9) and vertebrae 9 + 47-48 = 56-57 (Ref. 126070).