This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: dorsal, anal, pectoral and pelvic fin-rays [14 (mode 14), 11-14 (13), 13-14 (14) and 9 (9), respectively]; scales above and below lateral line [19-22 (21) and 21-24 (24), respectively)]; 43-65 (56) pyloric caeca; 0-15 (0) red spots laterally on body less than ca. 20 cm SL; body particularly slender in immature juveniles, body depth 20.9-26.7% of SL (average 23.3%); snout short, moderately pointed, length 5.5-7.0% of SL (6.2%); eye small, diameter 4.2-6.3% of SL (5.2%); interorbit narrow, width 6.7-8.0% of SL (7.4%); scales oblong, length/width ratio 1.26-1.64 (1.48); focus slightly forward of center, length of apical area/ length of basal area 0.99-1.45 (1.21); ridges circular, not disappearing in apical area (Ref 138051).