Distinguished from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: short snout (snout length 43-48% HL); principal rays in the upper caudal-fin lobe 10; absence of a dark irregular vertical bar across the distal edge of the caudal fin; absence of a broad swath of melanophores across the anterior half of the dorsal fin; presence of a large dark blotch at the base of each caudal fin lobe; and presence of an irregular vertical bar across the center of the caudal fin. Can be further diagnosed from all congeners by the following combination of characters: 2 branchiostegal rays; ventral surface between paired fins with triangular scale-less patch; presence of a large postepiphysial fontanelle; branched dorsal-fin rays 9; unbranched pectoral-fin rays 5; caudal-fin rays 10+9; lateral-line scales 32-34; lateral sides of body marked with 5-7 indistinct round to squarish dark blotches, arranged in a longitudinal row; caudal fin with a dark, irregular vertical bar across its center (Ref. 85329).

Description: Dorsal- fin rays iii.9; anal-fin rays ii.6; pectoral-fin rays v.9-10; pelvic-fin rays ii.6-7 (Ref. 85329).