This species is distinguished from all other species of Butidae by the following set of characters: upper and lower jaws with enlarged canine teeth (5 and 12, respectively); canines are in the outermost tooth row in the upper and anterior lower jaw, while canines are placed in the inner tooth row in the posterior lower jaw; upper jaw ending below center of the eye; interorbital sensory pore D paired with wide interval; fourth infraocular transverse row of sensory papillae crossed with a longitudinal row on the cheek; longitudinal scales 103; transverse scales 32; predorsal scales 63; transverse scales at caudal peduncle 21; circumpeduncle scales 39; D VI-I,10; A I, 8; pectoral-fin rays 17; predorsal length 38.2% of SL; body depth at anal-fin origin 18.4% of SL; eye diameter 3.3% of SL. Colouration: unpaired fin rays variegated by small blackish spots; a red spot on the upper part of the caudal-fin base when fresh (Ref. 129074).