This species is distinguished by the following characters: D1 VIII; D2 I, 16; pectoral-fin filaments 7 (6th filament longest); pectoral -fin rays 17; anal-fin spines 3; pored lateral-line scales 70; gill rakers 32; vomerine teeth separated at midline, forming two toothed patches; swimbladder absent; depth at posterior margin of maxilla greater than orbit diameter; relatively long snout length (6.8% of SL), upper-jaw length (13.8% of SL), first pelvic-fin soft ray length (17.2% of SL), and upper caudal-fin lobe length (38.1% of SL); relatively short pectoral-fin length (32.6% of SL), longest pectoral-fin filament length (158.7% of SL), and third anal-fin soft ray length (15.8% of SL); relatively small orbit diameter (2.2% of SL); ventroposterior part of the pectoral fin black (Ref. 58087).