This species is distinguished from all other species of Butidae by a combination of the following characters: upper and lower jaws with enlarged canine teeth on their outermost rows; more canines on upper jaw (7-11) than on lower jaw (4-7); no inner row of canines in the posterior half of lower jaw; upper jaw does not extend to anterior margin of eye; interorbital sensory pore D paired with wide interval; the fourth transverse row of sensory papillae (4) crossed with longitudinal papilla row (b) on the cheek; longitudinal scales 88-100, transverse scales 32-36, predorsal scales 51-65, transverse scales at caudal peduncle 22 or 23, circumpeduncle scales 40-43; D VI-I, 9-10; A I,8; pectoral fin 17; predorsal length 38.4-40.7% of SL; body depth at anal-fin origin 14.6-17.1% of SL; eye diameter 3.3-5.1% of SL. Colouration: no distinct markings on the unpaired fins and caudal peduncle (Ref. 129074).