Distinguished by the following characteristics: head, body and fins purplish grey to brownish grey; head with brown to golden brown dots and wavy longitudinal lines of the same colour on the dorsal part of the body (lines faint of absent on large specimens); narrowly blackish margin of spinous dorsal fin; body depth contained 2.7-3.1 times in SL; head length 2.5-2.7 times in SL; convex interorbital area; angular preopercle, notch above angle and enlarged serrae at angle; straight or slightly concave upper edge of operculum; subequal posterior and anterior nostrils or slightly larger posterior nostril; maxilla reaches to vertical at rear edge of eye; ventral edge of maxilla in adults with prominent knob or hook-like process; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 89707).