This species differs by the following characters: 1st D VII; 2nd D 8-11, rarely 8 or 11; A 8-10; no spine in 2nd dorsal or anal fin; branched caudal-fin rays 11-12; pectoral-fin rays 16-20; no head pores; wide gill opening reaching forward to below or slightly before posterior preopercular margin; scales reaching to above preoperculum in the head, sometimes almost to eye; dorsal mid-line of nape naked or rarely with a single scale just before 1st dorsal fin, but scales often present just to side of midline; body scales ctenoid, in 25-30 rows; midline of belly without scales or with a few scales posteriorly; pectoral base usually without scales or with 1 or 2 cycloid scales ventrally; area before pelvic fin n with cycloid scales; body deep, depth at anal origin subequal to or greater than caudal fin length; 1st dorsal fin low, with rounded or triangular shaped margin (Ref. 76773).