This species can be diagnosed by having the following characters: predorsal contour gradual and acute, not concave before eye; dorsal and ventral contours straight to moderately convex, sloping slowly; intersection with caudal peduncle inconspicuous; and mouth slightly angled downward; ground color khaki when alive; snout, head, and opercles heavily dotted with tiny speckles, extending posteriorly onto nuchal area and base of dorsal fin; eye diameter small (mean 23%, SD 1%), snout long (mean 39%, SD 2%); cheeks shallow (mean 29%, SD 2%) (all in HL); lower pharyngeal plate stout and much broader than long; horns short with lightly pigmented stout molars, 2 central rows of 6-7 molars flank the midline, posterior-most 3 big and stout; and peritoneum uniformly very dark (Ref. 94458).