This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: D X, 9-10; GR 10-15 (modally 12, rarely 14 or 15); D-X relatively short, measuring 14.3-20.6% of SL (mean 17.0%); longest pelvic-fin soft ray length 16.5-24.3% of SL (20.4%); dorsal profile of head straight; presence of filamentous membrane tips on the first 2-3 dorsal-fin spines in terminal phase males; anal-fin spines with relatively short filamentous membrane tips. Colouration: Body typically reddish-brown, with no black spots on abdomen; dark brown margin in anterior nostril, with large circular or elliptical dark brown blotch (roughly eye size) surrounded by faint yellow or orange on upper opercle; dark brown spot typically below the base of last D soft ray; a few small dark brown spots on mid-lateral surface of body; three slightly curved bluish-gray vertical lines usually on cheek below eye when the specimen is fresh; distinct white stripe usually on head extending from snout tip to upper end of opercle through upper part of iris (visible in fresh or live specimen); a dark brown spot on the membrane between 1st and 2nd D spines (sometimes indistinct in life); usually pale reddish-white with a broad reddish-brown band medially pelvic fin coloration (Ref. 130185).