This species is distinguished by the following characters: with pectoral fin; dorsal-fin origin anterior to level of pectoral fin base, predorsal length 10.0-12.9% TL; anus anterior, just below pectoral fin, preanal length 15.5-18.2% TL; very short trunk, its length 2.4-3.9% TL; intermaxillary teeth 2; compound teeth on vomer 3; upper jaw with 3 or 4 rows small sharp teeth; lower jaw with a single row of 2 large anterior teeth followed by 22-31 small sharp teeth; head pores: IO 4, SO 3, M 6, POP 0 (1 with 1), AD 1 (1with 0); lateral-line pores: predorsal 3-5, prepectoral 5-7, preanal 8-11, and total 65-78, the last at about anterior two-thirds of total length; MVF 8-13-130, total vertebrae 128-133 (1 with 120); colour of body light grayish to brown dorsally, paler ventrally; posterior half of anal-fin base deep brown, and dorsal and anal fins with white margins (Ref. 106136).