Description: slender, yet relatively deep-bodied; snout rounded; frontal profile slightly concave; caudal fin truncate to subtruncate; males larger than females and with a more robust head and slightly better developed (larger) unpaired fins and pelvic fins; pelvic fins rounded in both sexes (Ref. 52307). Cheek squamation, 1-3 rows of scales; chest squamation, minute, deeply embedded, often with bilaterally scaleless area; nape and nuchal scales smaller than polyacanthus, deeply embedded, appearing naked (Ref. 26626).

Coloration: body grayish-brown to olive, paler ventrally; dark longitudinal band at mid-body; at times 7 dark vertical bars may be visible; black stripe from eye to corner of mouth, another from posterior edge of eye to posterior edge of opercle; males without egg spots in anal fin; when courting, entire body paler, nearly yellowish (Ref. 52307).