This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: LL 51-55; predorsal scales 20-25; opercle naked (rarely with 2-4 scales visible); pectoral-fin rays 17-18; free tips on 3 upper pectoral rays moderately developed and the first ray shorter than half of the entire ray length; complete pelvic fin disc, its anterior membrane without lateral lobes; anterior oculoscapular canal with pore 'alpha' at rear of orbit; oculoscapular row x1 is not extending forwards to pore ß; suborbital row d is continuous; eye diameter 0.82-1.04 in snout length; there are 2 rows of elongated dots on the cheek and without dots between the middle of the cheek, the lower row starting anteriorly at the angle of mouth and going backwards across the cheek and opercle to the pectoral fin base, the upper row starting at upper lips, going posterodorsally to touch ventral margin of eye and continuing behind eye; upper mark on the pectoral fin single or doubled, reaching downwards to 6th - 7th rays counting from upper end (Ref. 110727).