This species is distinguished by the following characters: D2 12; A 13; upper jaw teeth in 2-3 rows; tongue fleshy,truncate to bifurcate, not rounded; upper lip not constricted; absence of a dark spot, with cornification or tentacle on dorsoposterior surface of the eye; anterior nares not darkly pigmented; without spots on gular membrane beneath preopercle or anterior process of quadrate; no membranous crest on nape; scales are mostly ctenoid; lateral scales 27-34; in males spines of first dorsal fin elongate, with third and fourth spines of appressed fin reaching beyond second dorsal fin to near caudal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 20-23; males with pelvic fins dusky while centrally dusky in females; neural arches incomplete over caudal vertebrae (Ref. 103856).