This species is distinguished by the following characters: males with a cup-like urogenital papilla; cephalic sensory-canal pore system only without the IT pore (pattern 2); some pectoral-fin rays are branched; dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 9/8; preural centrum with a dark spot; absence of a wedge-shaped dark spot at caudal-fin base; pectoral-fin base without the prominent dark distinct spots; when alive, with four obscure postanal subcutaneous bars, some broken, none completely vertical, the first 3 extending dorsally just above lateral midline, the last falling just short of lateral midline; 2 distinctive white (yellow in life) areas, one behind eye above operculum and the other on upper two-thirds of pectoral-fin base; when preserved the dorsal and anal fins are black, caudal fin dusky (Ref. 108968).