This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: medial tooth patch on first gill arch 2-4; POP 0-2; IO 7 + 0 = 7; inner ~ 3-5 rows of teeth in the anterior jaws in diagonal rows(in specimens < ~ 150 mm SL); anterior margin of anteriormost GRI reaching near anterior margin of the copular tooth plate, often before anterior margin of copular tooth plate; cavernous tissue only surrounding anus; absence of anal lappets; absence of filaments on fourth gill arch tiny or nearly, length < 17.3% filament on first arch; cavernous tissue, when discernable, only around anus; vertebrae 30-33 + 22-24 = 53-55; dorsal-fin rays 16-19; anal-fin rays 17-20; lateral-line pores 16-19; lateral-line scales 15-18; and copular tooth plate rather slender, greatest width 3.2-4.7 in length. (Ref. 138879).