This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: thoracic adhesive apparatus width 1.9-2.2 times in its length, three dark bands on body that are sometimes connected by a dark midlateral stripe to form an elongate pale ovoid patch on the dorsolateral surface of the body; lack of a distinctly pale nuchal shield; thoracic adhesive apparatus without anteromedial striae; medial pit; striae in medial third of TAA slightly divergent from longitudinal axis and anastomosing; caudal peduncle depth 2.5-2.7 times in body depth at dorsal-fin origin; dorsal to adipose distance 15.5-20.0% SL; tip of adpressed pelvic fin just reaching anal-fin origin; and the lack of enlarged, prominent tubercles on the flanks, particularly below the lateral line (Ref. 1382277).