Distinguished by the following characteristics: tan body color with 5 oblique dark-edged pale bands; dark bands with scattered small black spots and pale blotches, especially dorsally; pale interspaces with small dark brown spots, mainly arranged in series along the middle of the interspaces; adults with dark brown line from the lower edge of the eye to the edge of the subopercle; faint dark band along the maxillary groove and continuing to the edge of the interopercle; dorsal fin and caudal fin covered with small dark spots; juveniles dark brown with black-edged pale brown bands enclosing numerous small black spots; body depth contained 2.6-3.0 times in SL; head length 2.1-2.3 times in SL; nearly flat interorbital, dorsal head profile slightly convex; 2-5 distinctly enlarged serrae on preopercle angle; upper edge of operculum almost straight; adults posterior nostril diameter 2-3 times that of anterior nostrils; maxilla reaches to or past vertical at rear edge of eye; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 89707).