This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: presence of clear, rounded spots in the posterior most dorsal-fin rays of fixed adult specimens; snout 46.22%-52.74% HL; terminal mouth; head 94.08%-101.15% HL; caudal fin with a rounded distal margin; 25 or 26 longitudinal scales in the E0 series; dark and rounded mid-lateral spot of live specimens; 14 or 15 spines on the dorsal fin; small bright spots in the central region of the bluish spots on the caudal fin of living specimens absent; small bluish spots in the opercular region of living specimens; bluish dots on the most anterior soft rays of the anal fin of living specimens absent; denticles on gill rakers of the first branchial arch present; and bluish and longitudinal lines in the basal region of the caudal fin of living specimens absent (Ref.138566).