Characterized by having escal morphology: short anterior appendage, laterally compressed, without pigmented internal tube; presence of medial appendages; short, simple, cylindrical to laterally compressed; short and broad subopercle, dorsal end tapering to a point, without indentation on posterodorsal margin; length of ventral fork of opercle 24.2-27.1% SL; ratio of lengths of dorsal and ventral forks of opercle0.48-0.64; upper fork of opercle supported by 2-3 bony ribs in some large specimens; absence of epibranchial teeth; presence of teeth on pharyngobranchial II; upper jaw with 26-52; lower jaw teeth 36-50; teeth on vomer 4-10; dorsal fin rays 5-6; anal fin rays 4; pectoral fin rays 14-17; head length 32.2-39.5% SL; head depth 34.2-41.5% SL; premaxilla length 26-32.1% SL; length of lower jaw 33.2-45.3% SL; illicium length 14.4-26.5% SL (Ref. 86949).