This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: incomplete lateral line reaching between verticals of pelvic-fin origin and of anus, with 23-57 pores; colour pattern, with a plain grey body when preserved (yellowish grey in life); numerous faint, narrow and very irregular bars, darker along dorsal midline where they appear as small darker saddles are observed in small specimens (less than about 45 mm SL); a conspicuous suborbital flap; presence of small tubercles on the anterior pectoral-fin rays and on the flank; a more rounded dorsal profile of the snout; a more convex and somewhat wider interorbital area (distance 39-43 % of dorsal head length); and a somewhat deeper body (depth at dorsal-fin origin 17-22 % SL; depth of caudal peduncle 12-14 % SL) (Ref. 137759).