This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: anterior nostril placed high on snout (nearly half the distance from upper lip to anterior margin of eye); male copulatory organ with 2 pairs of equally large pseudoclaspers connected by thin ligament; pseudoclaspers slender, each with single straight supporter, inner pseudoclasper positioned anterior of outer pseudoclasper; precaudal vertebrae 12; rays on dorsal fin 84-90 and anal fin 59-67; head with scale patch on cheek only, no scales on operculum; upper preopercular pore present; maxilla expanded postventrally; otolith elongate (length to height 2.2-2.3), colliculi separated, ostium approaching close to anterior rim of otolith, ostium length to caudal length 3.3-3.8; size small, up to about 40 mm SL (Ref. 88966).