This slender species is distinguished by the following characters: flat dorsal head profile and pointed snout; A II + 7; pectoral-fin rays 15-16, pectoral length 19.5-24.3% SL; gill rakers 11-16, decreasing with size; pseudobranchial filaments 16-29, increasing in number with fish growth; first anal-fin pterygiophore is long, slightly bent, with moderately broad, hollow tip; vomer V-shaped with reduced dentition, only few long teeth near sides of base; palatine with 1 row of teeth, anteriorly long, posteriorly granular; ectopterygoid widened, 3-4 rows of granular teeth; orbital diameter 9.5-12.6% SL, decreasing with size; snout length 87-113 % of orbital diameter; no longitudinal ridges on the preopercular lobe; otolith moderately slender (OL:OH = 1.7-1.8) (Ref. 116586).