This species is distinguished by the following characters: bony interorbital trench absent, but eyes elevated well above the interorbital region forming a non-bony trench; head broader than deep, distinctly depressed; predorsal largely naked with body scales extending forward

to just above pectoral origin to just above posterior quarter of operculum; opercular scales absent; D2 I,10; A I, 9; pectoral rays 19; pelvic fins connected to form plate, no interspinal membrane; each scale pocket with concentrated xanthophores along margin, forming a diamond-shaped mark in life, but fading in preserved material, but with a concentration of melanophores along margins of scale pockets visible; vertical bands 4 on head in life, none on body; cheek sensory papillae a reduced transverse pattern; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 35°-40° with body axis (Ref. 85603).