Head and predorsal are marbled of dark and light brown; the rest of the dorsal surface yellowish with 3-4 faded transverse brown bars after dorsal fin. Ventral surface brown on snout and upper lip and the rest of the body uncolored. Dorsal fin inconspicuously spotted with a black blotch at tip of first rays. Pectoral and pelvic fin yellowish, with faded spots distally. Depressed head and body; head depth 2.8-3.2 times in HL; body depth 3-3.7 times in HL. Belly totally naked from throat to pelvic fins. In sexually mature males, no strongly curved pectoral spine; flat, broad spine, tapering towards the tip, covered by large odontodes on 2/3 of its length. Rictal barbel reduced and attached to lower lip by small membrane. Large subpreopercle strongly triangular with mesial side curved, plate boomerang shaped (Ref. 40703).