This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: strongly countershaded body with the epidermis on scales below the lateral line series nearly hyaline, lacking dark chromatophores; abundant iridophores present on the dermis, along the lateroventral portion of body, resulting in silvery reflective pigmentation; round, dark blotch on the caudal peduncle present; 33-36 pored scales from the supracleithrum to the hypural joint; five scale rows between lateral line and anal fin origin; 16 circumpeduncular scales; nine branched rays on dorsal fin; 31-32 total vertebrae; fleshy expansion of the upper lip overlapping lower jaw absent; low body depth 30.6%-35.8% of SL; short head length 26.9%-29.6% of SL; low caudal peduncle depth 10.9%-12.5% of SL; slightly short pelvic fin length 19.4%-21.9% SL (Ref. 130771).