This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: cephalic sensory-pore system pattern 2 (only IT pore missing); dorsal/anal fin-ray formula almost always 8/7; pectoral-fin rays unbranched; first three dorsal spines may be filamentous in males; 5th pelvic-fin ray absent or rudimentary to 20% maximum of 4th ray; strong black pigment along scale pockets on ventral two-thirds of sides and peppering of dark chromatophores on nape and upper back when preserved; snout, top and sides of head red in life; dark area of abdomen not crossed by a curved yellow-gold line in life (Ref. 88933); characterized further by longitudinal scale series 21-24; scales ctenoid, none on head, breast and pectoral fin base; depth of body 4.2-5.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).