Can be distinguished from other species of the genus by possessing the following unique combination of characters: large specimens: a plain brown, grey or black body when preserved, dark brown or black in life, head dorsum plain brown; sub-adult or juveniles: black or dark brown body with up to 9 cream bars, side with complete or interrupted bars forming blotches, head dark brown with thin cream reticulate pattern; absence of secondary rostrum; absence of a post-oral pouch; absence of subopercular groove; gill slit lunate; presence of sublacrymal groove; a rounded snout when viewed dorsally; abdomen partially covered with fine scales only between the pelvic fin base; lateral line scales 59-60; pelvic fin not overlapping anal fin origin, adpressed dorsal fin not overlapping level of anal fin origin (Ref. 57871).