This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: terminal mouth is oblique; distinct pigmentation of 5 large blotches on sides of trunk, last four of which are vertically elongate, dark blotch on upper half of pectoral-fin base, and broad suborbital patch crossing cheek from eye to middle of upper jaw; D2 13; A 14; dorsal fins not broadly connected; body with small cycloid scales; lateral series 54-66; nape with scales along naked midline; in males, maxilla extending beyond posterior margin of orbit, in females to posterior margin; first gill arch with seven thin rakers on ceratobranchial, one at angle, and six on epibranchial; horizontal midcheek row ‘b’ not extending forward beyond 3rd or 4th transverse suborbital row (Ref. 55435).