Distinguished by the following characteristics: buff body with 7-8 dark bars; 3 pale interspaces below soft dorsal fin; last dark bar covers most of caudal peduncle and extends to the base of the last 2-3 dorsal fin rays; blackish brown pelvic fin rays; median fins blackish brown distally with narrow pale margin; dark maxillary streak usually hidden by maxilla; pale gill rakers and gill arches, without minute melanophores; depth of body contained 2.5-3.1 times in SL; head length 2.4-2.6 times in SL; distinctly convex interorbital area, convex dorsal head profile; diameter of posterior nostrils of adults 3-4 times bigger than anterior nostrils; angular preopercle, with enlarged serrae at angle; 1-2 small spines anterior to angle at lower edge of preopercle; serrate or smooth lower edge of subopercle and rear edge of interopercle, convex upper edge of operculum; maxilla reaches to below rear half of eye, distinct step on lower edge of maxilla; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 89707).