This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: number of longitudinal series scales 33; vertical grey bars on body side in males absent, visible in live specimens; reduced number of opaque white dots on body in males; number of neuromasts in preopercular series 15; transverse series scales 12; short filaments on anal fin in adult males; rows of scales in caudal peduncle series 14; four short black filaments at tip of dorsal and anal fins in males; pelvic fin rays 5; contact organs absent in lateral body and between pectoral-fin rays; number of dorsal-fin rays 22-23, and anal-fin rays 23-24, in males; sides of body light brownish grey in males; number of preopercular neuromasts 15; dark green caudal fin; opaque blue distal stripe on caudal fin; iridescent transverse scales in males present; head depth in males 68.2-86.8% HL; head width 53.7-62.2% HL; and snout length 16.2-26.2% HL (Ref. 137857).