This species is distinguished by the following characters: a prominent spiny projection of the

rostral process of the first infraorbital bone [type M of Richards (1992)]; short opercular spine, barely projecting to edge of opercular flap; moderate length of pectoral fin (30.9-38.2%SL), reaching anal fin origin; weakly attached scales, ctenoid above and immediately below lateral line (transforming cteni type of Roberts, 1993), grading to cycloid on the belly; scaled nape, naked breast and interpelvic area; lateral line scales 64-67, 3 to 5 scale rows above and 21 to 26 rows below the lateral line; D1 IX, D2 16-18; A16-18; 11 plus 3 free pectoral rays; 25-26 bucklers along base of dorsal fins; vertebrae 34 (precaudal 11, caudal 23); head length short (27.1-29.7%SL); interorbital width narrow (5.3-6.0%SL); gill rakers on first ceratobranchial 6-7 short (1.3-1.7%SL) (Ref. 26892).