This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep; greatest depth 2.6-2.9 in SL; preopercular notch and knob poorly developed; vomerine tooth patch triangular or diamond-shaped, with a medial posterior extension; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-7 + 9-12 (including rudiments) = 16-19; caudal fin truncate to slightly emarginate; scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Colour of back and upper sides brown, lower sides whitish or light brown and belly whitish to yellow, usually a series of 6-7 yellow stripes on the sides and a prominent black spot at level of lateral line, below base of anterior part of soft portion of dorsal fin (Ref. 9821, 90102).

Description: Dorsal profile of head moderately sloped; preorbital bone about equal in width to eye diameter or slightly less; tongue with a patch of granular teeth.