This species is distinguished by the following characters: colouration pattern: semitranslucent greyish with a bifurcate white stripe straddling the spinal column, back with a narrow brown stripe extending from the side of the nape to the caudal peduncle, and a wider brown stripe on the ventral part of the body extending from the pectoral-fin axil to the caudal peduncle; some smaller individuals (less than about 2.0 cm SL) have a strong yellow tint on the head and body, and lack the dorsal-most brown stripe on the side; differs from most of its congeners in having a relatively low number of pectoral-fin rays 15-17, usually 16; D VI+I,10; A I,9 (rarely I,8); branched caudal-fin rays usually 15 (sometimes 14, especially specimens < 16 mm SL), anterior dentary has a single enlarged canine posterior to the main band of smaller teeth, and the aperture of the genital papilla reaching or nearly reaching anal-fin origin when adpressed (Ref. 125637).