This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: dorsal rays VI + I,8; anal rays; I,8-9 (usually 8), pectoral rays 15-16; pelvic frenum well developed; presence of cephalic sensory pores, including 3 preopercular pores; longitudinal pattern of cephalic sensory papillae on cheek, papillae rows include several elongate tentacles, also over-sized papillae present on mandibular-preopercle row; prominent postorbital tentacle on each side of dorsal head; presence of dermal flap on midline of chin tip; scattered skin flaps on body scales; longitudinal scales 26-27; absence of scales on head, ctenoid scales on body; colour in life mottled brown on head with several white tentacles mainly along mandibular preopercular papillae row; body whitish on dorsal half and dark brown with scattered white blotches/spots on lower half; dorsal and caudal fin mainly reddish brown with 1-2 dark brown spots near outer margin of anterior most rays of second dorsal fin and pair of prominent dark brown spots on outer portion of uppermost caudal-fin rays; anal and pelvic fins dark brown to nearly black, pair of white bars across pelvic fins and sometimes with short white band or large spot on outer margin of anterior portion of anal fin; and maximum size to about 20 mm SL (field observations) (Ref. 138626).