This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: dorsal-fin rays VI-I/10; anal-fin rays I/8; pectoral-fin rays 17?19 (mode 18); head and body without scales; gill opening large, extending ventrally to level with lowermost pectoral-fin base; absence of groove between isthmus and interopercle; presence of post-symphysial canine teeth; prepelvic-fin length 30.6-34.5% of SL; body depth at pelvic- and anal-fin origins 29.9-34.0% of SL and 23.0-26.8% of SL, respectively; ground colour of head and body greenish-brown to greenish-grey, with interconnected, vertically-oblique irregular reddish-orange spots and vermiculate bars on cheek and opercular regions; and absence of distinct dusky spot on posterodorsal tip of gill opening (Ref. 138732).