This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: rigid upper jaw with no flexible lamina posteriorly, extending 0.5-0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit in specimens 32.0-45.0 mm SL; infraorbitals relatively slender and tubular, all except lacrimal open laterally, 3rd infraorbital with short posterolateral projecting arm, no suborbital shelf; D X-XI, 11-12 (exceptionally 10); A II, 10-11; vertebrae 10+16; total gill rakers 26-30; shoulder above pectoral-fin base with dark spot approximately equal pupil diameter; small dark blotch on inner surface of pale mouth behind dark part of each dentary; dorsal fin with a prominent partial ocellus with inner dark spot beginning at spine 2 or 3 and ending between spines 3-5. (Ref. 128653).