This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: absence of modified scales along the midline and translucent skin; presence of a row of three black spots at the base of the caudal fin and dorsal fin rays that extend beyond the fin margin in breeding males; lateral line is incomplete with 41 to 55 lateral line scales, of which 27 to 47 are pored; transverse scale row 12 to 18; scale rows above lateral line modally, scale rows below lateral line modally 8; scale rows around caudal peduncle 19 to 25; dorsal fin spines modally 9; dorsal fin rays modally 12; pectoral fin rays modally 12; anal fin spines 2; anal fin rays 7 to 8; second dorsal fin rays branch into two to four rays that are equal in length, terminating in yellow keratin knobs referred to as egg-mimics in nuptial males; scaled cheek, opercle, breast, nape, and belly are all scaled (Ref. 137685).